Analyzing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An analyzing device includes: an operation cavity that is adjacent to a first reserving cavity retaining a sample liquid, in a circumferential direction of rotational driving; a connecting section provided on a side wall of the first reserving cavity to suck the sample liquid by a capillary force and transfer the sample liquid to the operation cavity; and second reserving cavities that are disposed outside the operation cavity in the circumferential direction of the rotational driving and communicate with the outermost position of the operation cavity through a connecting passage. The connecting section is circumferentially extended farther than the liquid level of the sample liquid retained in the first reserving cavity.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an analyzing device used for analyzinga liquid collected from an organism or the like.

BACKGROUND ART

In the related art, a liquid collected from an organism or the like isanalyzed by a known analyzing method using an analyzing device havingfluid channels formed therein. The analyzing device can control a fluidwith a rotator. By using a centrifugal force, the analyzing device candilute a sample liquid, measure a solution, separate a solid component,transfer and distribute a separated fluid, and mix the solution and areagent, thereby enabling various biochemical analyses.

Patent Literature 1 describes an analyzing device for transferring asolution by a centrifugal force. As shown in FIG. 57, a sample liquid isinjected into a storage cavity 92 from an inlet 91 by an insertinginstrument such as a pipette, the sample liquid is transferred to aseparating cavity 93 and is centrifugally separated therein by rotationsof an analyzing device 90, and then solution components are collectedinto a measuring passage 95 through a connecting passage 94. At thesubsequent rotation of the analyzing device 90, solution components inthe measuring passage 95 can be transferred to a measurement spot 96. Atthis point, in order to prevent whole blood retained in the separatingcavity 93 from flowing into the connecting passage 94 and the measuringpassage 95 thereafter, a siphon-shaped connecting passage 97 fordischarging the whole blood is provided on the outermost part of theseparating cavity 93. By using the siphon action of the connectingpassage 97, an excessive sample liquid in the separating cavity 93 isdischarged into an overflow cavity 98.

Patent Literature 2 describes an analyzing device for transferring asolution by using a centrifugal force. As shown in FIG. 58, a diluentmeasured by a centrifugal force in a diluent measuring chamber 84 andsupernatant plasma centrifugally separated in a separating chamber 80are transferred into a mixing chamber 86 through siphon passages 82 and84 by a centrifugal force. After agitation in the mixing chamber 86, thesolution is transferred to measurement cells 88, which are providedoutside the mixing chamber 86, through a siphon passage 87 and ismeasured therein.

Patent Literature 3 describes an analyzing device for measuring a sampleby using a centrifugal force. The analyzing device is configured asshown in FIGS. 59 to 62.

FIG. 59 shows an analyzing device of the invention. FIG. 60 shows a basesubstrate on which a microchannel is formed as a principle part of theanalyzing device.

In FIG. 59, the analyzing device is made up of a base substrate 3 havingmicrochannels 204 a and 204 b, a cover substrate 4 closing the openingof the base substrate 3, and an adhesive layer 300.

The microchannels 204 a and 204 b on the base substrate 3 are formed byinjection molding the uneven microchannel pattern of FIG. 60. A sampleliquid to be analyzed can be injected into the analyzing device and canbe moved by a centrifugal force and a capillary force. In FIG. 61, arotation axis 107 is the center of rotation of the analyzing device inanalysis.

In the analyzing device during measurement, the microchannel 204 a isfilled with a reaction solution 205 in which a sample liquid has reactedwith a reagent. The reaction solution 205 fluctuates in absorbance witha ratio of the sample liquid and the reagent. The microchannel 204 a isirradiated with light transmitted from a light source 206 and thequantity of the transmitted light is measured on a light receivingsection 207, so that a change of light quantity having passed throughthe reaction solution 205 can be measured to analyze a state ofreaction.

The following will describe the microchannel configuration of theanalyzing device and the transfer process of the sample liquid.

FIG. 61 is a plan view showing the microchannel configuration of theanalyzing device. FIGS. 62(a) to 62(d) show the transfer process of theanalyzing device.

As shown in FIGS. 60 and 61, the microchannel configuration includes aliquid storage chamber 209 for injecting and storing the sample liquid;a measuring chamber 210 for measuring a fixed quantity of the sampleliquid and retaining the sample liquid therein; an overflow chamber 211for receiving an excessive sample liquid when the volume of the sampleliquid is larger than the capacity of the measuring chamber 210; and ameasurement cell 212 that receives the sample liquid measured in themeasuring chamber 210, allows the sample liquid to react with thereagent, and measures absorbance.

The liquid storage chamber 209 is connected to the measuring chamber 210via a connecting passage 213. As shown in FIG. 62(a), the sample liquidis injected and stored in the liquid storage chamber 209 from an inlet208 and the analyzing device is rotated, so that the sample liquid canbe transferred to the measuring chamber 210 as shown in FIG. 62(b).

The measuring chamber 210 is connected to an inlet 216 of the overflowchamber 211 disposed inside the measuring chamber 210 in the radialdirection of rotation, from an overflow port 214 at the innermostposition of the measuring chamber 210 in the radial direction ofrotation via a capillary passage 217. The measuring chamber 210 isconnected to the measurement cell 212 from the outermost position of themeasuring chamber 210 in the radial direction of rotation via aconnecting passage 215. The overflow chamber 211 has an air hole 218facilitating the passage of the sample liquid. The measurement cell 212also has an air hole 219 facilitating the passage of the sample liquidthrough the connecting passage 215.

The connecting passage 215 has a siphon shape and includes a bent pipedisposed between the rotation axis of the analyzing device and theinterface between the inlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211 and thecapillary passage 217.

The measuring chamber 210 and the measurement cell 212 are connectedthus, so that even when the sample liquid stored in the liquid storagechamber 209 is transferred to the measuring chamber 210 by a rotation ofthe analyzing device, the sample liquid in the connecting passage 215,as shown in FIG. 62(b), reaches only a position corresponding to adistance from the rotation axis of the analyzing device to the interfacebetween the inlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211 and the capillarypassage 217 in the radial direction of rotation.

When the analyzing device is stopped after the measuring chamber 210 isfilled with the sample liquid, a capillary force is applied in theconnecting passage 215. As shown in FIG. 62(c), the sample liquidreaches the inlet of the measurement cell 212. At this point, themeasurement cell 212 has a large depth and the capillary force is quitesmaller than that of the connecting passage 215, so that the sampleliquid does not flow into the measurement cell 212.

After the connecting passage 215 is filled with the sample liquid, theanalyzing device is rotated again, so that as shown in FIG. 62(d), thesample liquid retained in the measuring chamber 210 is transferred tothe measurement cell 212 by a siphon action.

Of the wall surfaces of the measuring chamber 210, the inner wallsurface in the radial direction of rotation of the analyzing device isformed inward in the radial direction of rotation, from a portion aroundthe connecting passage 213 of the measuring chamber 210 toward a portionaround the overflow port 214. In other words, of the wall surfaces ofthe measuring chamber 210, the inner wall surface in the radialdirection of rotation of the analyzing device is positioned closer tothe rotation axis in the radial direction of rotation, from the sampleliquid inlet of the measuring chamber 210 toward the overflow port. Thuswhen the sample liquid is transferred from the liquid storage chamber209, air in the measuring chamber 210 is selectively evacuated to theoverflow port 214, so that the measurement of the sample liquid ishardly varied by entrained air when the measuring chamber 210 is filledwith the sample liquid.

The capillary passage 217 is 50 μm to 200 μm in depth. During a rotationof the analyzing device, a liquid level is stably measured at a positioncorresponding to a distance to the interface between the inlet 216 ofthe overflow chamber 211 and the capillary passage 217 in the radialdirection of rotation. At the deceleration/stop of a rotation, thesample liquid is trapped in the capillary passage 217 by a capillaryforce of the capillary passage 217. Thus it is possible to prevent thesample liquid from flowing into the overflow chamber 211 and achieveprecise measurement. Further, the sample liquid trapped in the capillarypassage 217 is returned to the measuring chamber 210 by a centrifugalforce in the subsequent rotation. Thus the measured sample liquid can befully transferred to the subsequent process.

The sample liquid injected into the liquid storage chamber 209 istransferred to the measuring chamber 210 thus by a rotation of theanalyzing device. The sample liquid exceeding a fixed quantity isdischarged into the overflow chamber 211 through the capillary passage217, so that a predetermined quantity of the sample liquid can bemeasured.

In Patent Literature 4 shown in FIGS. 63(a) and 63(b), a sample liquidis injected into an inlet passage 284 from an inlet 286 by an insertinginstrument such as a pipette, the sample liquid is transferred to ameasurement cell 285 by a rotation of an analyzing device, the sampleliquid is sucked by a capillary force applied to a passage 287 inresponse to the deceleration or stop of a rotation, and the rotation isaccelerated again to return the sample liquid to the measurement cell285, so that the sample liquid and a reagent 288 can be stirred.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-078676-   Patent Literature 2: National Publication of International Patent    Application No. 10-501340-   Patent Literature 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-033225-   Patent Literature 4: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-145451

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In Patent Literature 1, whole blood passing through the connectingpassage 97 by a capillary force is varied in transport speed amongindividuals. Thus sufficient transport time is necessary. However, inthe case of a long standby time from the time the sample liquid reachesthe outlet of the connecting passage 97 to the subsequent operation, thewhole blood of the separating cavity 93 may not be discharged into theoverflow cavity 98 because of clogging of the whole blood at the outletof the connecting passage 97.

An object of the present invention is to provide an analyzing devicethat can suppress clogging of whole blood at the outlet of theconnecting passage 97 and transfer a liquid with higher stability evenin the case of a long standby time from the time the sample liquidreaches the outlet of the connecting passage 97 to the subsequentoperation.

In Patent Literature 2, it is necessary to dilute plasma. Thus aconfiguration for collecting plasma and a configuration for measuring adiluent have to be adjacent to the mixing chamber 86 and all thepassages for transferring the sample liquid to the subsequent processhave to be circumferentially formed, so that the outside diameter of theanalyzing device is increased and only a part of a disk shape is used.Disadvantageously, a large unnecessary area indicated by hatching 290may be generated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an analyzing devicethat can be reduced in size.

In Patent Literature 3, the inlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211 isdisposed inside the overflow port 214 of the measuring chamber 210. Thusit is necessary to provide a space S between the outer periphery of theliquid storage chamber 209 and the inner periphery of the measuringchamber 210, making it difficult to reduce the size of the analyzingdevice.

The measuring chamber 210 and the overflow chamber 211 are connected viathe capillary passage 217 and the flow rate of a liquid transferred tothe measuring chamber 210 is larger than the flow rate of a dischargedliquid. During the measurement of the sample liquid, the sample liquidin the siphon-shaped connecting passage 215 may be transferred over theinnermost bent section of the connecting passage 215 and the unmeasuredsample liquid may be transferred to the measurement cell 212.

Further, a fixed quantity of, e.g., several tens μ1 of the sample liquidis supplied into the measurement cell 212 and absorbance can be measuredwith a long optical path. However, the fixed quantity of, e.g., severaltens μl of the sample liquid is supplied only to the single measurementcell 212, so that multiple items may not be analyzed.

When the sample liquid is obtained by diluting a test object with adiluent, it is necessary to provide a mixing device for mixing a fixedquantity of the test object and a fixed quantity of the diluent, ameasuring chamber for measuring a fixed quantity from the diluent, andan overflow chamber for receiving an excessive diluent, upstream of theliquid storage chamber 209 of the base substrate 3. Thus at present, itis further difficult to reduce the size of the analyzing device.

The present invention has been devised to solve the problems of therelated art. An object of the present invention is to provide ananalyzing device having a measuring mechanism that can be easily reducedin size.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an analyzingmethod that can simultaneously analyze multiple items by measuringabsorbance.

In Patent Literature 4, the measurement cell 285 is disposedorthogonally to the centrifugal direction. Thus in optical measurementof the sample liquid in the measurement cell 285, the measurement cell285 has to be filled with a large quantity of the sample liquid, makingit difficult to reduce the quantity of the sample liquid.

In the case of incorrect control of the quantity of the sample liquid ofthe measurement cell 285, the volume of the passage 287, and theposition of the applied reagent 288 in the passage 287, irregularagitation may occur. When the reagent has a large specific gravity, thereagent may precipitate on the outer periphery of the measurement cell285, so that the accuracy of measurement may decrease.

Further, an agitating mechanism for agitating the sample liquid and thereagent is U-shaped and is made up of the inlet passage 284, themeasurement cell 285, and the passage 287. An area between the inletpassage 284 and the passage 287 is formed as an unnecessary space andthus the agitating mechanism is not suitable for size reduction of theanalyzing device.

The present invention has been devised to solve the problems of therelated art. An object of the present invention is to provide ananalyzing device that can reduce the quantity of a sample liquid,eliminate irregular agitation of the sample liquid and a reagent, andcan be properly reduced in size.

Solution to Problem

An analyzing device according to a first aspect of the present inventionis an analyzing device having a microchannel structure for transferringa sample liquid to a measurement spot by a centrifugal force generatedby rotational driving, the analyzing device being used for reading thataccesses a reaction liquid at the measurement spot, the analyzing deviceincluding: a first reserving cavity for retaining a sample liquidtransferred by the centrifugal force; an operation cavity adjacent tothe first reserving cavity in the circumferential direction of therotational driving; a connecting section provided on the side wall ofthe first reserving cavity, the connecting section sucking, by acapillary force, the sample liquid retained in the first reservingcavity and transferring the sample liquid to the operation cavity; and asecond reserving cavity that is disposed outside the operation cavity inthe circumferential direction of the rotational driving, communicateswith the outermost position of the operation cavity via a connectingpassage, and retains the sample liquid transferred from the operationcavity by the centrifugal force, wherein the connecting section of theoperation cavity is circumferentially extended farther than the liquidlevel of the sample liquid retained in the first reserving cavity, withrespect to a rotation axis for generating the centrifugal force.

An analyzing device according to a second aspect of the presentinvention, in the first aspect, wherein the operation cavity and theconnecting section have cross sectional dimensions in the thicknessdirection and the cross sectional dimensions are regulated to enable theapplication of the capillary force.

An analyzing device according to a third aspect of the presentinvention, in the first aspect, further including a cavity on the innerperiphery side of the operation cavity, the cavity being opened to theatmosphere.

An analyzing device according to a fourth aspect of the presentinvention, in the third aspect, wherein the cavity is connected to thefirst reserving cavity.

An analyzing device according to a fifth aspect of the presentinvention, in the first aspect, wherein the connecting passage has crosssectional dimensions in the thickness direction and the cross sectionaldimensions are regulated such that a capillary force applied to theconnecting passage is larger than a capillary force applied to theoperation cavity.

An analyzing device according to a sixth aspect of the presentinvention, in the first aspect, wherein the operation cavity containsreagents and an agitating rib extended around the reagents in the radialdirection.

An analyzing method according to a seventh aspect of the presentinvention, when a sample liquid is transferred to a measurement spot ofan analyzing device by a centrifugal force generated by rotationaldriving, the analyzing method including: transferring the sample liquidto a first reserving cavity by the centrifugal force through acommunicating passage to which a capillary force is applied;transferring the sample liquid of the first reserving cavity to anoperation cavity adjacent to the first reserving cavity in thecircumferential direction of the rotational driving, through aconnecting section that is provided on the side wall of the firstreserving cavity and receives a capillary force, and metering the sampleliquid in the operation cavity, the sample liquid being transferred bystopping or decelerating the rotational driving; oscillating theanalyzing device so as to agitate the sample liquid in the operationcavity and dissolving reagents in the operation cavity; and transferringthe sample liquid of the operation cavity containing the dissolvedreagents to a subsequent measurement spot disposed outside the operationcavity in the circumferential direction of the rotational driving,through the connecting passage receiving the capillary force, the sampleliquid being transferred by the centrifugal force generated by therotational driving.

An analyzing device according to a eighth aspect of the presentinvention is an analyzing device having a microchannel structure fortransferring a sample liquid to a measurement spot by a centrifugalforce, the analyzing device being used for reading that accesses areaction liquid at the measurement spot, the analyzing device including:a separating cavity for separating the sample liquid into a solutioncomponent and a solid component by using the centrifugal force; ameasuring passage that receives a portion of the solution componentseparated in the separating cavity and retains the portion of thesolution component; a connecting passage whose proximal end is connectedto the bottom of the separating cavity, the connecting passagetransferring the sample liquid of the separating cavity; an overflowcavity connected to the other end of the connecting passage; and aliquid retaining section provided from the outlet of the connectingpassage in the circumferential direction and toward the inner peripheryof the analyzing device.

An analyzing device according to a ninth aspect of the presentinvention, in the eighth aspect, wherein the liquid retaining sectionhas a width w2 that is larger than a width w1 of the connecting passage.

An analyzing device according to a tenth aspect of the present inventionis an analyzing device having a microchannel structure for transferringa sample liquid to a measurement spot by a centrifugal force, theanalyzing device being used for reading that accesses a reaction liquidat the measurement spot, the analyzing device including: a separatingcavity for separating the sample liquid into a solution component and asolid component by using the centrifugal force; a measuring passage thatreceives a portion of the solution component separated in the separatingcavity and retains the portion of the solution component; a connectingpassage whose proximal end is connected to the bottom of the separatingcavity, the connecting passage transferring the sample liquid of theseparating cavity; an overflow cavity connected to the other end of theconnecting passage; and a liquid retaining connecting passage providedfrom the outlet of the connecting passage in the circumferentialdirection.

An analyzing method according to an eleventh aspect of the presentinvention includes: separating a sample liquid received by a separatingcavity into a solution component and a solid component by a centrifugalforce; transferring the solution component, which has been separated inthe separating cavity, to a measurement spot by a centrifugal force andanalyzing the solution component by accessing a reaction liquid at themeasurement spot; sucking the sample liquid left in the separatingcavity, by a capillary force of a connecting passage whose proximal endis connected to the bottom of the outer periphery of the separatingcavity and front end is opened at an overflow cavity; and storing thesample liquid in a state in which a width w2 of the opening of theconnecting passage at the overflow cavity is larger than a width w1 of apassage to the front end of the connecting passage, and then dischargingthe sample liquid of the separating cavity to the overflow cavity byapplying the largest centrifugal force to the separating cavity.

An analyzing method according to a twelfth aspect of the presentinvention includes: separating a sample liquid received by a separatingcavity into a solution component and a solid component by a centrifugalforce; transferring the solution component, which has been separated inthe separating cavity, to a measurement spot by a centrifugal force andanalyzing the solution component by accessing a reaction liquid at themeasurement spot; sucking the sample liquid left in the separatingcavity, by a capillary force of a connecting passage whose proximal endis connected to the bottom of the outer periphery of the separatingcavity and front end is opened at an overflow cavity; and furthersucking the sample liquid at the opening of the connecting passage atthe overflow cavity through a liquid retaining connecting passage by acapillary force, and then discharging the sample liquid of theseparating cavity to the overflow cavity by applying the largestcentrifugal force to the separating cavity.

An analyzing device according to a thirteenth aspect of the presentinvention is an analyzing device having a microchannel structure fortransferring a sample liquid to a measurement spot by a centrifugalforce, the analyzing device including a capillary passage for feeding aliquid in the circumferential direction from an upstream process to adownstream process, the capillary passage crossing an overflow cavityfor feeding a liquid in a direction along which the centrifugal force isapplied from the rotation axis to the outer periphery of the analyzingdevice, wherein the liquid of the overflow cavity is discharged over thecapillary passage by the centrifugal force.

An analyzing device according to a fourteenth aspect of the presentinvention is an analyzing device having a microchannel structure fortransferring a sample liquid to a measurement spot by a centrifugalforce, the analyzing device being used for measuring a fixed quantity ofa diluent in a reserving cavity, discharging an excessive diluent fromthe reserving cavity to a chamber through an overflow cavity, dilutingthe sample liquid by mixing the sample liquid and the fixed quantity ofthe diluent in a mixing cavity, transferring the sample liquid dilutedin the mixing cavity to the measurement spot through a capillarypassage, and reading that accesses a reaction liquid at the measurementspot, wherein the reserving cavity and the mixing cavity are arranged inthe circumferential direction from the center to the outer periphery ofthe analyzing device, the overflow cavity and the chamber are arrangedon the sides of the reserving cavity and the mixing cavity in thecircumferential direction, the capillary passage is disposed at a pointof the overflow cavity so as to cross the flowing direction of theexcessive diluent toward the chamber, and the excessive diluent of theoverflow cavity is supplied into the chamber over the capillary passageby the centrifugal force.

An analyzing device according to a fifteenth aspect of the presentinvention further includes a sealing overflow cavity between anatmospheric-side overflow cavity communicating with the atmosphere andthe chamber, the sealing overflow cavity communicating with the chambervia a first overflow passage and communicating with the atmospheric-sideoverflow cavity via a second overflow passage, wherein the outlets ofthe chamber and the sealing overflow cavity are sealed from theatmosphere and a negative pressure is generated in the chamber and thesealing overflow cavity when the sample liquid is transferred from themixing cavity through the capillary passage.

An analyzing method using an analyzing device according to a sixteenthaspect of the present invention, the analyzing device having amicrochannel structure for transferring a sample liquid to a measurementspot by a centrifugal force, wherein a fixed quantity of a diluent ismeasured in a reserving cavity by the centrifugal force, an excessivediluent is discharged from the reserving cavity to a chamber through anoverflow cavity over a capillary passage disposed at a point of theoverflow cavity so as to cross the flowing direction of the excessivediluent toward the chamber, the sample liquid diluted in the mixingchamber is transferred to the measurement spot through the capillarypassage while the sample liquid is tilted at a contact position on oneend of the capillary passage, and a reaction liquid is accessed and readat the measurement spot.

An analyzing device according to a seventeenth aspect of the presentinvention includes: a measuring chamber that is connected to a liquidstorage chamber via a connecting passage, is disposed outside the liquidstorage chamber in the radial direction of rotation, and retains a fixedquantity of a liquid received from the liquid storage chamber; anoverflow chamber that is connected to the measuring chamber and receivesan excessive quantity of the liquid; and a measurement cell that isdisposed in the subsequent stage of the measuring chamber and measuresthe liquid received from the measuring chamber, wherein the inlet of theoverflow chamber and the overflow port of the measuring chamber areconnected via a capillary passage extending along the radial directionof rotation.

An analyzing device according to an eighteenth aspect of the presentinvention includes: a measuring chamber that is connected to a liquidstorage chamber via a connecting passage, is disposed outside the liquidstorage chamber in the radial direction of rotation, and retains a fixedquantity of a liquid received from the liquid storage chamber; anoverflow chamber that is connected to the measuring chamber and receivesan excessive quantity of the liquid; and a measurement cell that isdisposed in the subsequent stage of the measuring chamber and measuresthe liquid received from the measuring chamber, wherein the overflowport of the measuring chamber and the inlet of the overflow chamber areconnected via a capillary passage extending outside the overflow port inthe radial direction of rotation.

An analyzing device according to a nineteenth aspect of the presentinvention includes: a first measuring chamber that is connected to aliquid storage chamber via a first connecting passage, is disposedoutside the liquid storage chamber in the radial direction of rotation,and retains a fixed quantity of a liquid received from the liquidstorage chamber; a second measuring chamber that is connected to theliquid storage chamber via a second connecting passage, is disposedoutside the liquid storage chamber in the radial direction of rotation,and retains a fixed quantity of the liquid received from the liquidstorage chamber; an overflow chamber that is disposed between the firstmeasuring chamber and the second measuring chamber, is connected to thefirst measuring chamber and the second measuring chamber, and receivesan excessive quantity of the liquid; a first measurement cell that isdisposed in the subsequent stage of the first measuring chamber andmeasures the liquid received from the first measuring chamber; and asecond measurement cell that is disposed in the subsequent stage of thesecond measuring chamber and measures the liquid received from thesecond measuring chamber, wherein the inlet of the overflow chamber andthe first overflow port of the first measuring chamber are connected viaa first capillary passage extending along the radial direction ofrotation, and the inlet of the overflow chamber and the second overflowport of the second measuring chamber are connected via a secondcapillary passage extending along the radial direction of rotation.

An analyzing method according to a twentieth aspect of the presentinvention includes: transferring, by rotating an analyzing device, oneof a diluent and a sample liquid to be analyzed in a liquid storagechamber to multiple measuring chambers disposed outside the liquidstorage chamber of the analyzing device along the radius of rotation,and transferring an excessive quantity of one of the diluent and thesample liquid in metering of the measuring chambers to an overflowchamber disposed outside the measuring chambers of the analyzing devicealong the radius of rotation; transferring one of the diluent and thesample liquid that have been metered in the measurement chambers to themultiple measurement cells of the analyzing device by rotating theanalyzing device after the rotation of the analyzing device isdecelerated or stopped, and reacting a fixed quantity of the sampleliquid with a reagent set in each of the measurement cells, themeasurement cells being disposed in the subsequent stage of the multiplemeasuring chambers; and passing light through analytes in the respectivemeasurement cells and measuring the absorbance of each of the analytesduring the rotation of the analyzing device.

Advantageous effects of Invention

With the configurations of first to seventh aspects of the presentinvention, even a small quantity of sample liquid can be moved between afirst reserving cavity and an operation cavity via a connecting sectionby controlling a centrifugal force generated by rotational driving, sothat a reagent contained in the operation cavity can be sufficientlyagitated with the sample liquid. After the agitation of the reagent andthe sample liquid, the sample liquid of the operation cavity can betransferred to a second reserving cavity through a connecting passage bycontrolling the centrifugal force generated by the rotational driving,and transmittance can be measured and analyzed in the second reservingcavity. Further, the first reserving cavity and the operation cavity arearranged in the circumferential direction, thereby reducing the size ofan analyzing device.

With the configurations of eighth to twelfth aspects, an overflow cavityis provided that is connected to the other end of the connectingpassage, and a liquid retaining section is provided from the outlet ofthe connecting passage in the circumferential direction and to the innerperiphery of the analyzing device or a liquid retaining connectingpassage is provided from the outlet of the connecting passage in thecircumferential direction, thereby suppressing clogging of whole bloodat the outlet of the connecting passage even in the case of a longstandby time.

With the configurations of thirteenth to sixteenth aspects, a capillarypassage feeding a liquid from an upstream process to a downstreamprocess in the circumferential direction is disposed at a point of theoverflow cavity feeding a liquid in a direction from the rotation axisto the outer periphery of the analyzing device such that the capillarypassage crosses the overflow cavity, and the liquid of the overflowcavity is discharged over the capillary passage by the centrifugalforce. Thus it is possible to transfer the diluted sample liquid to themeasurement spot through the capillary passage, reducing the size of theanalyzing device.

With the configurations of seventeenth to twentieth aspects, a spacebetween a liquid storage chamber and a measuring chamber can be reduced.Thus chambers disposed in the radial direction can be arranged close tothe inner periphery of the analyzing device, reducing the size of theanalyzing device. Further, the sample liquid transferred to themeasuring chamber can be regulated to a flow rate smaller than the flowrate of the discharged sample liquid, thereby eliminating errors duringmeasurement. In the case where multiple measurement chambers areprovided at the same time, the sample liquid can be measured in therespective measuring chambers, enabling measurement of multiple items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an analyzing device with an openedand closed protective cap according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view and a bottom view of the analyzing deviceaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the analyzing deviceaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a front view, an A-A sectional view, a side view, a rearview, and a front view of a diluent container according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a plan view, a side view, a B-B sectional view, and a frontview of the protective cap according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows sectional views of the closed diluent container, the openedprotective cap, and a discharged diluent.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a step of setting the analyzingdevice in a shipment state according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the opened door of an analyzingapparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the analyzing apparatus according tothe first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view showing a turntable according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows an A-AA sectional view and a B-BB sectional view of theturntable according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the turntable, for explanation ofengagement between the turntable and a projecting section of theanalyzing device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a structural diagram of the analyzing apparatus according tothe first embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows an enlarged perspective view of a portion around the inletof the analyzing device, a perspective view showing that the protectivecap is opened and a sample liquid is collected from a finger tip, and anenlarged perspective view of the microchannel structure of the analyzingdevice that is viewed from the turntable through a cover substrate.

FIG. 15 is a state diagram showing a state before the analyzing devicecontaining the dropped sample liquid is set on the turntable accordingto the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows a state diagram in which the analyzing device retainingthe sample liquid in a capillary cavity is set on the turntable with abroken aluminum seal of a diluent solution, and a state diagram showingthe analyzing device is separated from the turntable according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view for explaining the discharge of aliquid from the diluent container according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows a state diagram in which the sample liquid flows into ameasuring passage from a separating cavity and a fixed quantity of thesample liquid is retained in the measuring passage in step 3, and astate diagram in which the sample liquid flows into a mixing cavity fromthe measuring passage in step 4 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 19 shows a state diagram of the analyzing device oscillated in step6 of the first embodiment, and a state diagram in which the turntable isrotationally driven in a clockwise direction to cause the sample liquidto flow into a measuring chamber and a reserving cavity.

FIG. 20 shows a state diagram of the analyzing device oscillated in step8 of the first embodiment, and a state diagram in which the turntable isrotationally driven in the clockwise direction in step 9 to causediluted plasma having reacted with the reagent of an operation cavity toflow into the separating cavity, and aggregates generated in theoperation cavity are centrifugally separated by keeping a high-speedrotation.

FIG. 21 shows a state diagram in which the turntable is stopped, thediluted plasma flows into the measuring passage, and a fixed quantity ofthe diluted plasma is retained in the measuring passage in step 10 ofthe first embodiment, and a state diagram in which the diluted plasmaretained in the measuring passage flows into the measuring chamber instep 11.

FIG. 22 shows a state diagram in which a reaction of the diluted plasmain the measuring chamber and reagents is started in step 12 of the firstembodiment, and a state diagram of the agitation of the reagents and thediluted plasma in step 13.

FIG. 23 shows an enlarged perspective view in which the diluent from thediluent container flows into the reserving cavity through a dischargingpassage in step 2 of the first embodiment, and an enlarged perspectiveview in which the diluted plasma is transferred from the mixing cavityto the subsequent process through a capillary passage.

FIG. 24 shows an explanatory drawing of problems when the sample liquidremaining in the separating cavity is discharged to an overflow cavity,and a plan view of the principle part of the analyzing device as animprovement example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 25 shows a plan view of a liquid level state of the mixing cavitybefore oscillation for the explanation of the configuration of themixing cavity and problems of a transferring method of a solution, aplan view of a liquid level state of the mixing cavity afteroscillation, and an A-A sectional view of the mixing cavity.

FIG. 26 shows a plan view of a liquid level state of a mixing cavitybefore the oscillation of an analyzing device according to a firstexample of the first embodiment, a plan view of a liquid level state ofthe mixing cavity after oscillation, and a B-B sectional view of themixing cavity.

FIG. 27 shows a plan view of a liquid level state of a mixing cavitybefore the oscillation of an analyzing device according to a secondexample of the first embodiment, a plan view of a liquid level state ofthe mixing cavity after oscillation, and a C-C sectional view of themixing cavity.

FIG. 28 shows a plan view of a liquid level state of a mixing cavitybefore the oscillation of an analyzing device according to a thirdexample of the first embodiment, a plan view of a liquid level state ofthe mixing cavity after oscillation, and a D-D sectional view of themixing cavity.

FIG. 29 shows a plan view of a liquid level state of the mixing cavitybefore oscillation, for the explanation of problems of the sizereduction of the analyzing device, a plan view showing a liquid levelstate of the mixing cavity after oscillation, and an E-E sectional viewof the mixing cavity.

FIG. 30 shows a plan view of a liquid level state of a mixing cavitybefore the oscillation of an analyzing device according to a fourthexample of the first embodiment, a plan view of a liquid level state ofthe mixing cavity after oscillation, and a G-G sectional view of themixing cavity.

FIG. 31 is an enlarged perspective view showing a liquid level state ofthe mixing cavity at the start of the suction of diluted plasma from themixing cavity to a capillary passage according to the fourth example.

FIG. 32 shows a plan view of the analyzing device when the turntable isstopped around 180° and a plan view of the analyzing device when theturntable is stopped around 60° and 300°.

FIG. 33 shows an explanatory drawing of a layout in which the overflowcavity is disposed between the reserving cavity and the mixing cavityaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a sectional view of the analyzing device taken along line F-Fof FIG. 19 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 35 shows an enlarged plan view of a state of reagents contained incapillary areas of the analyzing device and a G-G sectional viewaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 36 shows an enlarged plan view of a state of reagents in theoperation cavity of the analyzing device and an H-H sectional viewaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 37 shows a perspective view of a portion around the inlet of acapillary passage 37 from a mixing cavity 39 and a perspective view of asecond embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view showing the microchannel configuration ofthe base substrate of an analyzing device according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a plan view showing the microchannel configuration of thebase substrate of the analyzing device according to the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 40 is a perspective view showing the microchannel configuration ofthe base substrate of an analyzing device according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a plan view showing the microchannel configuration of thebase substrate of the analyzing device according to the fourthembodiment.

FIG. 42 is a plan view showing a modification of the third embodiment ofthe present invention according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing the microchannel configuration ofthe base substrate of an analyzing device according to a sixthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 44 is a plan view showing the microchannel configuration of thebase substrate of the analyzing device according to the sixthembodiment.

FIG. 45 shows a process diagram of a transfer process according to thesixth embodiment.

FIG. 46 is a perspective view showing the microchannel configuration ofthe base substrate of an analyzing device according to a seventhembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 47 is a plan view showing the microchannel configuration of thebase substrate of the analyzing device according to the seventhembodiment.

FIG. 48 is a plan view showing the microchannel configuration of thebase substrate of an analyzing device according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 49 is a principle part perspective view showing the microchannelconfiguration of the base substrate of an analyzing device according toa ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 50 is a principle part plan view showing the microchannelconfiguration of the base substrate of the analyzing device according tothe ninth embodiment.

FIG. 51 is a plan view showing the analyzing device according to theninth embodiment.

FIG. 52 is a sectional view showing the principle part of the analyzingdevice according to the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 53 shows A-A, B-B, and C-C sectional views of FIG. 50.

FIG. 54 shows a process diagram of a transfer process according to theninth embodiment.

FIG. 55 is a perspective view showing the microchannel configuration ofthe base substrate of an analyzing device according to a tenthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 56 is a plan view showing the microchannel configuration of thebase substrate of the analyzing device according to the tenthembodiment.

FIG. 57 is a structural diagram of Patent Literature 1.

FIG. 58 is a structural diagram of Patent Literature 2.

FIG. 59 is an enlarged sectional view showing an analyzing device ofPatent Literature 3.

FIG. 60 is a perspective view showing a base substrate according to therelated art.

FIG. 61 is a plan view showing the microchannel configuration of ananalyzing device according to the related art.

FIG. 62 shows a process diagram of a transfer process according to therelated art.

FIG. 63 shows a plan view and a sectional view of Patent Literature 4.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

FIGS. 1 to 6 show an analyzing device.

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show an analyzing device 1 with an opened and closedprotective cap 2. FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are a front view and a bottom viewof the analyzing device 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the analyzingdevice 1 with the underside of FIG. 1(a) placed face up.

The analyzing device 1 is made up of four components of a base substrate3 having a microchannel structure formed on one surface of the basesubstrate 3, the microchannel structure having a minutely unevensurface, a cover substrate 4 covering the surface of the base substrate3, a diluent container 5 for retaining a diluent, and the protective cap2 for preventing splashes of a sample liquid.

On the bottom of the analyzing device 1, that is, on the cover substrate4, a rotary support section 15 is formed that protrudes on the bottom ofthe analyzing device 1 and acts as a centering fitting part. On theinner periphery of the protective cap 2, a rotary support section 16 isformed. In the analyzing device 1 with the protective cap 2 closed, therotary support section 16 is formed in contact with the outer peripheryof the rotary support section 15. On the cover substrate 4, a projectingsection 114 is formed as a detent locking section having the proximalend connected to the rotary support section 15 and the other endextending to the outer periphery of the analyzing device 1.

The base substrate 3 and the cover substrate 4 are joined to each otherwith the diluent container 5 or the like set in the base substrate 3 andthe cover substrate 4, and the protective cap 2 is attached to thejoined base substrate 3 and cover substrate 4.

The cover substrate 4 covers the openings of several recessed sectionsformed on the top surface of the base substrate 3, thereby formingmultiple storage areas and the passages of the microchannel structureconnecting the storage areas, which will be described later.

In necessary ones of the storage areas, reagents required for variousanalyses are set beforehand. One side of the protective cap 2 ispivotally supported such that the protective cap 2 can be opened andclosed in engagement with shafts 6 a and 6 b formed on the basesubstrate 3 and the cover substrate 4. When a sample liquid to beinspected is blood, the passages of the microchannel structure receivinga capillary force have clearances of 50 μm to 300 μm.

The outline of an analyzing process using the analyzing device 1 is thata sample liquid is dropped into the analyzing device 1 in which thediluent has been set, at least a portion of the sample liquid is dilutedwith the diluent, and then measurement is conducted.

FIG. 4 shows the shape of the diluent container 5.

FIG. 4(a) is a plan view, FIG. 4(b) is an A-A sectional view of FIG.4(a), FIG. 4(c) is a side view, FIG. 4(d) is a rear view, and FIG. 4(e)is a front view taken from an opening 7. After an interior 5 a of thediluent container 5 is filled with a diluent 8 as shown in FIG. 6(a),the opening 7 is enclosed with an aluminum seal 9 serving as a sealingmember. On the opposite side of the diluent container 5 from the opening7, a latch section 10 is formed. The diluent container 5 is set in adiluent container storage part 11 formed between the base substrate 3and the cover substrate 4, and is accommodated movably between a liquidretaining position shown in FIG. 6(a) and a liquid discharging positionshown in FIG. 6(c).

FIG. 5 shows the shape of the protective cap 2.

FIG. 5(a) is a plan view, FIG. 5(b) is a side view, FIG. 5(c) is a)3-13sectional view of FIG. 5(a), FIG. 5(d) is a rear view, and FIG. 5(e) isa front view taken from an opening 2 a. In the protective cap 2, alocking groove 12 is formed. In the closed state of FIG. 1(a), the latchsection 10 of the diluent container 5 can be engaged with the lockinggroove 12 as shown in FIG. 6(a).

FIG. 6(a) shows the analyzing device 1 before use. In this state, theprotective cap 2 is closed and the latch section 10 of the diluentcontainer 5 is engaged with the locking groove 12 of the protective cap2 to lock the diluent container 5 at the liquid retaining position, sothat the diluent container 5 does not move in the direction of arrow J.The analyzing device 1 in this state is supplied to a user.

When the sample liquid is dropped, the protective cap 2 is opened asshown in FIG. 1(b) against the engagement with the latch section 10 inFIG. 6(a). At this point, a bottom 2 b of the protective cap 2 iselastically deformed with the locking groove 12 formed on the bottom 2b, thereby disengaging the latch section 10 of the diluent container 5from the locking groove 12 of the protective cap 2 as shown in FIG.6(b).

In this state, the sample liquid is dropped to an exposed inlet 13 ofthe analyzing device 1 and then the protective cap 2 is closed. At thispoint, by closing the protective cap 2, a wall surface 14 forming thelocking groove 12 comes into contact with a surface 5 b of the latchsection 10 of the diluent container 5 on the protective cap 2, and thewall surface 14 presses the diluent container 5 in the direction ofarrow J (a direction that comes close to the liquid dischargingposition). The diluent container storage part 11 has an opening rib 11 aformed as a section projecting from the base substrate 3. When thediluent container 5 is pressed by the protective cap 2, the aluminumseal 9 provided on the inclined seal face of the opening 7 of thediluent container 5 is collided with and broken by the opening rib 11 aas shown in FIG. 6(c).

FIG. 7 shows a manufacturing process in which the analyzing device 1 isset at the shipment state of FIG. 6(a). First, before the protective cap2 is closed, a groove 42 (see FIGS. 3 and 4(d)) provided on theundersurface of the diluent container 5 and a hole 43 provided on thecover substrate 4 are aligned with each other, and a projecting section44 a of a locking member 44 is engaged with the groove 42 of the diluentcontainer 5 through the hole 43 at the liquid retaining position. Theprojecting section 44 a is provided separately from the base substrate 3or the cover substrate 4. The diluent container 5 is set so as to belocked at the liquid retaining position. Further, from a notch 45 (seeFIG. 1) formed on the top surface of the protective cap 2, a pressingmember 46 is inserted and presses the bottom of the protective cap 2 toelastically deform the protective cap 2. In this state, the protectivecap 2 is closed and then the pressing member 46 is removed, so that theanalyzing device 1 can be set in the state of FIG. 6(a).

The present embodiment described an example in which the groove 42 isprovided on the undersurface of the diluent container 5. The groove 42may be provided on the top surface of the diluent container 5 and thehole 43 may be provided on the base substrate 3 in alignment with thegroove 42 such that the projecting section 44 a of the locking member 44is engaged with the groove 42.

Further, the locking groove 12 of the protective cap 2 is directlyengaged with the latch section 10 of the diluent container 5 to lock thediluent container 5 at the liquid retaining position. The locking groove12 of the protective cap 2 and the latch section 10 of the diluentcontainer 5 may be indirectly engaged with each other to lock thediluent container 5 at the liquid retaining position.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the analyzing device 1 is set on a turntable101 of an analyzing apparatus 100.

In the present embodiment, the turntable 101 is attached around arotation axis 107 tilted as shown in FIG. 9 and is tilted by angle θwith respect to horizontal line H. The direction of gravity to asolution in the analyzing device 1 can be controlled according to therotation stop position of the analyzing device 1.

To be specific, when the analyzing device 1 is stopped at the positionof FIG. 32(a) (a position around 180° when a position directly above theanalyzing device 1 in FIG. 32(a) is 0° (360°)), an underside 122 of anoperation cavity 121 is directed downward when viewed from the front.Thus a force of gravity is applied to a solution 125 in the operationcavity 121 toward the outer periphery (underside 122) of the analyzingdevice 1.

When the analyzing device 1 is stopped at a position around 60° as shownin FIG. 32(b), an upper left side 123 of the operation cavity 121 isdirected downward when viewed from the front. Thus a force of gravity isapplied to the upper left of the solution 125 in the operation cavity121. Similarly, at a position around 300° in FIG. 32(c), an upper right124 of the operation cavity 121 is directed downward when viewed fromthe front. Thus a force of gravity is applied to the upper right of thesolution 125 in the operation cavity 121.

In this way, the rotation axis 107 is tilted and the analyzing device 1is stopped at any position, so that a solution is driven to betransferred in the analyzing device 1 in a predetermined direction.

A force of gravity to a solution in the analyzing device 1 can be set byadjusting the angle θ of the rotation axis. It is desirable to set aforce of gravity depending on the relationship between a quantity oftransferred liquid and the adhesion of applied liquid on a wall surfacein the analyzing device 1.

The angle θ is desirably set at 10° to 45°. When the angle θ is smallerthan 10°, a force of gravity applied to the solution is so small that adriving force for transfer may not be obtained. When the angle θ islarger than 45°, a load applied to the rotation axis 107 may increase orthe solution transferred by a centrifugal force may unexpectedly moveunder its own weight, resulting in an uncontrollable state.

On the top surface of the turntable 101, a circular groove 102 isformed. In a state in which the analyzing device 1 is set on theturntable 101, the rotary support section 15 formed on the coversubstrate 4 of the analyzing device 1 and the rotary support section 16formed on the protective cap 2 are engaged with the circular groove 102,so that the analyzing device 1 is accommodated.

After the analyzing device 1 is set on the turntable 101, a door 103 ofthe analyzing apparatus is closed before a rotation of the turntable101, so that the set analyzing device 1 is pressed to the turntable 101by a clamper 104 provided on the door 103, at a position on the rotationaxis of the turntable 101 by a biasing force of a spring 105 a thatserves as an urging member. The analyzing device 1 rotates with theturntable 101 that is rotationally driven by a rotational drive unit106. Reference numeral 107 denotes the rotation axis of the turntable101. [0090]

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11(a), on the inner periphery of the circulargroove 102 of the turntable 101, a plurality of grooves 115 are providedat regular intervals as detent locking sections on the turntable 101.FIG. 11(a) is an A-AA sectional view of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11(b) is a B-BBsectional view of FIG. 10. Partitions 116 between the grooves 115 of theturntable 101 have angular tops. Further, an internal diameter R1 of thepartitions 116 between the grooves 115 is larger than an externaldiameter R2 of the rotary support section 15 that is provided at thecenter of the bottom of the analyzing device 1 and is accommodated inthe circular groove 102 of the turntable 101.

With this configuration, when the analyzing device 1 is set on theturntable 101, as shown in FIG. 9, a central projecting section 117formed as a centering fitting section at the center of the circulargroove 102 of the turntable 101 is located inside the rotary supportsection 15 of the analyzing device 1, and the central projecting section117 acts as a centering fitting section for centering the analyzingdevice 1 and the turntable 101. At this point, as shown in FIGS. 9 and12, an end 114 a of the projecting section 114 of the analyzing device 1is engaged with any one of the grooves 115 formed at regular intervalson the inner periphery of the circular groove 102 of the turntable 101,so that the analyzing device 1 does not slip in the circumferentialdirection of the turntable 101.

The protective cap 2 is attached to prevent the sample liquid appliedaround the inlet 13 from being splashed to the outside by a centrifugalforce during analysis.

The components constituting the analyzing device 1 are desirably made ofresin materials enabling low material cost with high mass productivity.The analyzing apparatus 100 analyzes the sample liquid according to anoptical measurement method for measuring light having passed through theanalyzing device 1. Thus the base substrate 3 and the cover substrate 4are desirably made of transparent synthetic resins including PC, PMMA,AS, and MS.

The diluent container 5 is desirably made of crystalline syntheticresins such as PP and PE that have low moisture permeability. This isbecause the diluent container 5 has to contain the diluent 8 for a longtime period. The protective cap 2 may be made of any materials as longas high moldability is obtained. Inexpensive resins such as PP, PE, andABS are desirable.

The base substrate 3 and the cover substrate 4 are desirably joined toeach other according to a method hardly affecting the reaction activityof a reagent retained in the storage area. Thus methods such asultrasonic welding and laser welding are desirable by which a reactivegas and a solvent are hardly generated during joining.

On a part where a solution is transferred by a capillary force in asmall clearance between the base substrate 3 and the cover substrate 4that are joined to each other, hydrophilic treatment is performed toincrease the capillary force. To be specific, hydrophilic treatment isperformed using a hydrophilic polymer, a surface-active agent, and soon. In this case, hydrophilicity is a state in which a contact angle isless than 90° relative to water. More preferably, the contact angle isless than 40°.

FIG. 13 shows the configuration of the analyzing apparatus 100.

The analyzing apparatus 100 is made up of the rotational drive unit 106for rotating the turntable 101, an optical measurement unit 108 foroptically measuring a solution in the analyzing device 1, a control unit109 for controlling, e.g., the rotation speed and direction of theturntable 101 and the measurement timing of the optical measurementunit, an arithmetic unit 110 for calculating a measurement result byprocessing a signal obtained by the optical measurement unit 108, and adisplay unit 111 for displaying the result obtained by the arithmeticunit 110.

The rotational drive unit 106 can rotate the analyzing device 1 throughthe turntable 101 about the rotation axis 107 in any direction at apredetermined rotation speed and can further oscillate the analyzingdevice 1 such that the analyzing device 1 laterally reciprocates at apredetermined stop position with respect to the rotation axis 107 with apredetermined amplitude range and a predetermined period.

The optical measurement unit 108 includes a light source 112 foremitting light of a specific wavelength to the measurement section ofthe analyzing device 1, and a photodetector 113 for detecting thequantity of light having passed through the analyzing device 1 out ofthe light emitted from the light source 112.

The analyzing device 1 is rotationally driven by the turntable 101, andthe sample liquid drawn into the analyzing device 1 from the inlet 13 istransferred in the analyzing device 1 by using a centrifugal forcegenerated by rotating the analyzing device 1 about the rotation axis 107located inside the inlet 13 and the capillary force of a capillarypassage provided in the analyzing device 1. The microchannel structureof the analyzing device 1 will be specifically described below alongwith an analyzing process.

FIG. 14 shows a part around the inlet 13 of the analyzing device 1.

FIG. 14(a) is an enlarged view of the inlet 13 viewed from the outsideof the analyzing device 1. FIG. 14(b) shows that the protective cap 2 isopened and a sample liquid 18 is collected from a fingertip 120. FIG.14(c) shows the microchannel structure viewed from the turntable 101through the cover substrate 4.

The inlet 13 projects to the outer periphery of the analyzing device 1from the rotation axis 107 set in the analyzing device 1 and the inlet13 is connected to a capillary cavity 19 through a guide section 17receiving a capillary force with a small clearance 5 that is formedbetween the base substrate 3 and the cover substrate 4 so as to extendto the inner periphery of the analyzing device 1. The capillary cavity19 can retain a required quantity of the sample liquid 18 by a capillaryforce. With this configuration, the protective cap 2 is opened and thesample liquid 18 is directly applied into the inlet 13, so that thesample liquid applied around the inlet 13 is drawn into the analyzingdevice 1 by the capillary force of the guide section 17.

On the guide section 17, the capillary cavity 19, and the connectedsection, a bending section 22 is formed that changes the direction of apassage with a recessed section 21 formed on the base substrate 3.

When viewed from the guide section 17, a receiving cavity 23 a is formedbehind the capillary cavity 19 such that the receiving cavity 23 a has aclearance in which a capillary force is not applied. Partially on thesides of the capillary cavity 19, the bending section 22, and the guidesection 17, a cavity 24 is formed that has one end connected to aseparating cavity 23 and the other end opened to the atmosphere. By theeffect of the cavity 24, the sample liquid collected from the inlet 13passes through the guide section 17 and preferentially flows along theside walls of the capillary cavity 19 so as to avoid the cavity 24. Thuswhen air bubbles are entrained at the inlet 13, the air is discharged tothe cavity 24 in a section where the guide section 17 is adjacent to thecavity 24, so that the sample liquid 18 can be collected withoutentraining air bubbles.

FIG. 15 shows a state before the analyzing device 1 containing thedropped sample liquid 18 is set on the turntable 101 and is rotatedthereon. At this point, as shown in FIG. 6(c), the aluminum seal 9 ofthe diluent container 5 has been collided with and broken by the openingrib 11 a. Reference characters 25 a to 25 m denote air holes formed onthe base substrate 3.

As shown in FIG. 16, at a point of an overflow cavity for transferring aliquid in a direction (arrow K), along which a centrifugal force isobtained, from the rotation axis 107 to the outer periphery of theanalyzing device 1, a capillary passage 37 for circumferentiallytransferring a liquid from an upstream process to a downstream processis provided across the overflow cavity. The liquid is discharged overthe capillary passage 37 by the centrifugal force. To be specific, areserving cavity 27 and a mixing cavity 39 are disposed in thecircumferential direction (arrow K) from the center to the outerperiphery of the analyzing device 1. On the sides of the reservingcavity 27 and the mixing cavity 39, overflow cavities 29 a and 29 b anda reference measuring chamber 29 c are disposed in the circumferentialdirection. Between the overflow cavities 29 a and 29 b, the capillarypassage 37 is formed across the flowing direction of an excessivediluent supplied to the reference measuring chamber 29 c.

The analyzing device 1 further includes an overflow cavity 29 d betweenan overflow cavity 29 e communicating with the atmosphere and thereference measuring chamber 29 c. The overflow cavity 29 d communicateswith the reference measuring chamber 29 c via an overflow passage 28 cand communicates with the overflow cavity 29 e via an overflow passage28 d.

The following will describe the analyzing process along with theconfiguration of the control unit 109 that controls the operation of therotational drive unit 106.

Step 1

As shown in FIG. 16(a), the analyzing device 1 in which a sample liquidto be inspected has been dropped into the inlet 13 is set on theturntable 101 in a state in which the sample liquid is retained in thecapillary cavity 19 and the aluminum seal 9 of the diluent container 5has been broken.

Step 2

The door 103 is closed and then the turntable 101 is rotationally drivenin a clockwise direction (direction C2), so that the retained sampleliquid overflows at the position of the bending section 22. The sampleliquid in the guide section 17 is discharged to the protective cap 2,and then as shown in FIG. 16(b), the sample liquid 18 in the capillarycavity 19 flows into separating cavities 23 b and 23 c through thereceiving cavity 23 a and is centrifugally separated into a plasmacomponent 18 a and a blood cell component 18 b by the separatingcavities 23 b and 23 c.

As shown in FIGS. 16(b) and 23(a), the diluent 8 from the diluentcontainer 5 flows into the reserving cavity 27 through a dischargingpassage 26. When the diluent 8 having flowed into the reserving cavity27 exceeds a predetermined quantity, an excessive quantity of thediluent 8 flows into the overflow cavity 29 a through an overflowpassage 28 a, passes over the capillary passage 37, and flows into theoverflow cavity 29 c, which serves as a reference measuring chamber,through the overflow cavity 29 b and an overflow passage 28 b.

As in the reserving cavity 27, when the diluent having flowed into theoverflow cavity 29 c exceeds a predetermined quantity, an excessivequantity of the diluent flows into the overflow cavity 29 d, whichserves as a blocking overflow cavity, through the overflow passage 28 cserving as a reference-side overflow passage.

As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the bottom of the diluent container 5on the opposite side from the opening 7 sealed with the aluminum seal 9is formed of a curved surface 32. At the liquid discharging position ofthe diluent container 5 in the state of FIG. 16(b), a center m of thecurved surface 32 is offset, as shown in FIG. 17, by a distance d fromthe rotation axis 107 to the discharging passage 26. The flow of thediluent 8 to the curved surface 32 is changed to a flow (arrow n) fromthe outside to the opening 7 along the curved surface 32, and then thediluent 8 is efficiently discharged to the diluent container storagepart 11 from the opening 7 of the diluent container 5.

Step 3

Next, when the rotation of the turntable 101 is stopped, the plasmacomponent 18 a is sucked into a capillary cavity 33 formed on the wallsurface of the separating cavity 23 b and flows, as shown in FIG. 18(a),into a measuring passage 38 through a connecting passage 30communicating with the capillary cavity 33, so that a fixed quantity ofthe plasma component 18 a is retained.

In the present embodiment, a filling confirming area 38 a is formed atthe outlet of the measuring passage 38 so as to extend to the innerperiphery of the analyzing device 1. Before advancing to the subsequentprocess, the analyzing device 1 is slowly rotated at around 100 rpm andthe presence or absence of the plasma component 18 a can be opticallydetected in a state in which the filling confirming area 38 a retainsthe plasma component 18 a. The filling confirming area 38 a in theanalyzing device 1 has a rough inner surface that scatters light passingthrough the filling confirming area 38 a. When the filling confirmingarea 38 a is not filled with the plasma component 18 a, the quantity oftransmitted light decreases. When the filling confirming area 38 a isfilled with the plasma component 18 a, the liquid is also applied to theminutely uneven surface. Thus the scattering of light is suppressed andthe quantity of transmitted light increases. The presence or absence ofthe plasma component 18 a can be detected by detecting a difference inlight quantity.

The sample liquid in the separating cavities 23 b and 23 c is suckedinto a connecting passage 34 that is siphon-shaped and connects theseparating cavity 23 c and an overflow cavity 36 b. The diluent 8 issimilarly sucked into a connecting passage 41 that is siphon-shaped andconnects the reserving cavity 27 and the mixing cavity 39.

In this configuration, a flow preventing groove 32 a at the outlet ofthe connecting passage 41 is formed to prevent the diluent 8 fromflowing from the connecting passage 41 to the measuring passage 38. Theflow preventing groove 32 a is formed with a thickness of about 0.2 mmto 0.5 mm on the base substrate 3 and the cover substrate 4.

The capillary cavity 33 is formed from the outermost position of theseparating cavity 23 b to the inner periphery of the analyzing device 1.In other words, the outermost position of the capillary cavity 33 isextended outside a separation interface 18 c of the plasma component 18a and the blood cell component 18 b in FIG. 16(b).

By setting the position of the outer periphery of the capillary cavity33 thus, the outer end of the capillary cavity 33 is immersed in theplasma component 18 a and the blood cell component 18 b that have beenseparated in the separating cavity 23 b. Since the plasma component 18 ahas a lower viscosity than the blood cell component 18 b, the plasmacomponent 18 a is preferentially sucked by the capillary cavity 33. Theplasma component 18 a can be transferred to the measuring passage 38through the connecting passage 30.

After the plasma component 18 a is sucked, the blood cell component 18 bis also sucked following the diluted plasma component 18 a. Thus theplasma component 18 a can be replaced with the blood cell component 18 bin the capillary cavity 33 and a path halfway to the connecting passage30. When the measuring passage 38 is filled with the plasma component 18a, the transfer of the liquid is stopped also in the connecting passage30 and the capillary cavity 33, so that the blood cell component lobdoes not enter the measuring passage 38.

Hence, it is possible to minimize a loss of the transferred liquid ascompared with the configuration of the related art, thereby reducing aquantity of the sample liquid required for measurement.

FIG. 24 shows an enlarged view of the connecting passage 34 and a partaround the connecting passage 34, which will be specifically describedbelow.

In the related art, in order to prevent the sample liquid remaining inthe separating cavities 23 b and 23 c from being sucked into thecapillary cavity 33 and transferred to the subsequent process as shownin FIG. 24(a), the connecting passage 34 is provided that issiphon-shaped, is connected to the outermost position (r1) of theseparating cavity 23 c, and has a radial position (r2) at the outletwhere r1<r2 is established. After the sample liquid is sucked into theconnecting passage 34, the turntable 101 is rotated to discharge thesample liquid remaining in the separating cavities 23 b and 23 c to theoverflow cavity 36 b by a siphon action. However, when the sample liquidis blood, the blood cell component 18 b passing through the connectingpassage 34 is varied in transport speed among individuals. Thus it isnecessary to start a rotation in the subsequent process in considerationof a time period until the blood cell component 18 b reaches the outletof the connecting passage 34. It has been found that the blood cellcomponent 18 b having early reached the outlet of the connecting passage34 is clotted during a standby time before the subsequent process andthen the blood cell component 18 b clogs at the outlet of the connectingpassage 34 and cannot be discharged at the start of the rotation in thesubsequent process. In order to avoid this phenomenon, the position (r2)at the outlet of the connecting passage 34 may be further extended tothe outer periphery of the analyzing device 1 to prevent the blood cellcomponent 18 b from reaching the outlet of the connecting passage 34 andsuppress the clotting of the blood cell component 18 b. However, thisconfiguration is not suitable for the size reduction of the analyzingdevice 1.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24(b), a liquid retainingsection 34 a is provided from the outlet of the connecting passage 34 inthe circumferential direction and to the inner periphery of theanalyzing device 1. By providing the liquid retaining section 34 a thus,the blood cell component 18 b at the outlet of the connecting passage 34flows into the liquid retaining section 34 a. Thus the transfer of theblood cell component 18 b is not stopped at the outlet of the connectingpassage 34.

Since the width (w2) of the liquid retaining section 34 a is larger thanthe width (w1) of the connecting passage 34, a surface tension is notapplied in one direction on the liquid end of the blood cell component18 b, distributing a driving force. The blood cell component 18 bdecreases in transport speed after flowing into the liquid retainingsection 34 a, so that variations in transport speed among individualscan be absorbed with a small area.

As shown in FIG. 24(c), a liquid retaining connecting passage 34 b maybe provided from the outlet of the connecting passage 34 to the innerperiphery of the analyzing device 1. Provided at the outlet of theliquid retaining connecting passage 34 b are an opened-to-atmospherecavity 31 a and an air hole 25 n communicating with the atmosphere inthe cavity 31 a.

This configuration can achieve the same effect as the configuration ofFIG. 24(b).

Step 4

When the turntable 101 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction(direction C2), as shown in FIG. 18(b), the plasma component 18 aretained in the measuring passage 38 overflows at the position of theopened-to-atmosphere cavity 31 and only a fixed quantity of the plasmacomponent 18 a flows into the mixing cavity 39. The diluent 8 in thereserving cavity 27 also flows into the mixing cavity 39 through thesiphon-shaped connecting passage 41.

The sample liquid 18 in the separating cavities 23 b and 23 c, theconnecting passage 30, and the capillary cavity 33 flows into anoverflow cavity 36 a through the siphon-shaped connecting passage 34 anda backflow preventing passage 35.

Step 5

Next, the rotation of the turntable 101 is stopped, the analyzing device1 is set at the position of FIG. 18(b), and the turntable 101 iscontrolled at a frequency of 40 Hz to 80 Hz so as to oscillate theanalyzing device 1 by about ±1 mm, thereby agitating the diluent 8transferred into the mixing cavity 39 and diluted plasma 40 to bemeasured, the diluted plasma 40 containing the plasma component 18 a.

Step 6

After that, the analyzing device 1 is set at the position of FIG. 19(a),the turntable 101 is controlled at a frequency of 80 Hz to 200 Hz so asto oscillate the analyzing device 1 by about ±1 mm, and the dilutedplasma 40 retained in the mixing cavity 39 is transferred to the inletof the capillary passage 37 formed inside the liquid level of thediluted plasma 40. FIG. 37(a) is a perspective view showing a partaround the inlet of the capillary passage 37 from the mixing cavity 39.

The diluted plasma 40 transferred to the inlet of the capillary passage37 is sucked into the capillary passage 37 by a capillary force and thenis sequentially transferred to the capillary passage 37, measuringpassages 47 a, 47 b, and 47 c, and an overflow passage 47 d.

Referring to FIGS. 25 to 31, the configuration of the mixing cavity 39and a method of transferring a solution will be specifically describedbelow according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 25(a) is a plan view showing a state of a liquid level in themixing cavity 39 before oscillation. FIG. 25(b) is a plan view showing astate of the liquid level in the mixing cavity 39 after oscillation.FIG. 25(c) is an A-A sectional view of the mixing cavity 39 shown inFIG. 25(b).

The mixing cavity 39 is formed of an inclined wall surface narrowingfrom the inner periphery toward the outermost position of the mixingcavity 39. The diluted plasma 40 can be retained at the liquid level(d1) and the capillary passage for transferring the diluted plasma 40 tothe subsequent process has an inlet 37 a at a position (d0) inside theliquid level d1. The mixing cavity 39 operated in the present embodimentcan contain about several tens μl. Thus a large surface tension isapplied to the wall surface of the mixing cavity 39 and the mixingcavity 39 is hardly affected by a force of gravity.

The following will describe a movement of the diluted plasma 40 retainedin the mixing cavity 39 serving as an operation cavity, in the casewhere the analyzing device 1 is oscillated at the position of theoperation cavity 121 shown in FIG. 25(a).

As shown in FIG. 25(b), the liquid level of the diluted plasma 40 in themixing cavity 39 is laterally moved by an inertial force of oscillation,so that the diluted plasma 40 forms the liquid level that is pulled tothe wall surfaces of the mixing cavity 39.

Therefore, the liquid level pulled to the wall surfaces is increasedtoward the inner periphery of the mixing cavity by repeatedlyoscillating the analyzing device 1, so that the diluted plasma 40 can betransferred to the inlet 37 a of the capillary passage.

However, in the case where the mixing cavity 39 has a uniform thickness(t1), as shown in FIG. 28(c), the liquid level of the diluted plasma 40increases along the top surface (a surface on the base substrate 3), sothat the diluted plasma 40 cannot reach the inlet 37 a of the capillarypassage provided near the bonded interface between the base substrate 3and the cover substrate 4.

First Example

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the liquid level is controlled bythe configuration of FIG. 26. FIG. 26(a) is a plan view showing a stateof a liquid level in a mixing cavity 39 before oscillation. FIG. 26(b)is a plan view showing a state of the liquid level in the mixing cavity39 after oscillation. FIG. 26(c) is a B-B sectional view of the mixingcavity 39 shown in FIG. 26(b).

In the mixing cavity 39, a step 39 a is formed such that diluted plasma40 has a larger thickness at an inner position (d2) than the liquidlevel (d1) of the diluted plasma 40 (t1<t2).

By oscillating this configuration, an increase in liquid level on thewall surfaces of the mixing cavity 39 is suppressed by the step 39 aprovided on the top surface of the mixing cavity 39 and the liquid levelon the bottom surface of the mixing cavity 39 is increased to the innerperiphery with respect to the step 39 a. This is because the step 39 ais provided so as to apply a surface tension in a different directionfrom the extending direction of the liquid level. Thus the dilutedplasma 40 can reach an inlet 37 a of a capillary passage.

In step 5, however, it is necessary to retain a plasma component 18 aand a diluent 8 in the mixing cavity 39 and reliably agitate the plasmacomponent 18 a and the diluent 8 by oscillations. Thus in order toprevent the liquid level from reaching the inlet 37 a of the capillarypassage and prevent the diluted plasma 40 from being sucked into acapillary passage 37 during the oscillations of step 5, it is necessaryto provide a sufficient distance between the position of the inlet 37 a(d0) of the capillary passage and a liquid level position (d1).Particularly, in the case of several tens μl of liquid in the presentembodiment, the liquid level can be increased only by a short distanceto the inner periphery by oscillations in the configuration of FIG. 26.Thus the liquid level cannot reach the inlet 37 a of the capillarypassage 37 or a sufficient distance cannot be obtained to the inlet 37 aof the capillary passage, so that the diluted plasma 40 may be suckedinto the capillary passage 37 during agitation.

SECOND EXAMPLE

Referring to FIG. 27, the following will describe a configuration forincreasing the extended distance of a liquid level only on one side of amixing cavity 39 by oscillation. FIG. 27(a) is a plan view showing astate of a liquid level in the mixing cavity 39 before oscillation. FIG.27(b) is a plan view showing a state of the liquid level in the mixingcavity 39 after oscillations. FIG. 27(c) is a C-C sectional view of themixing cavity 39 shown in FIG. 27(b).

The mixing cavity 39 has a bending section 39 b at a position (d3)inside the liquid level (d1) of diluted plasma 40, on a side wall 39 eopposed to a side wall 39 d on which an inlet 37 a of a capillarypassage is provided. The bending section 39 b opens the mixing cavity 39toward the inner periphery.

By oscillating this configuration, on the side wall 39 e opposed to theside wall 39 d on which the inlet 37 a of the capillary passage of themixing cavity 39 is provided, an increase in the liquid level issuppressed by the bending section 39 b provided on the wall surface,whereas the liquid level is further increased to the inner periphery onthe wall surface on which the inlet 37 a of the capillary passage isprovided. This is because the bending section 39 b is provided to applya surface tension in a different direction from the extending directionof the liquid level. Thus even when the inlet 37 a of the capillarypassage is sufficiently separated, the liquid level can reach the inlet37 a.

THIRD EXAMPLE

In FIG. 28, the configurations of FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 are combined tocontrol a liquid level. The liquid level in the configuration of FIG. 26moves as illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27.

FOURTH EXAMPLE

In order to further reduce the size of an analyzing device 1, as shownin FIG. 29(a), the outlet of a measuring passage 38 may be formed nearthe liquid level of diluted plasma 40 retained in a mixing cavity 39.

A plasma component 18 a retained in the measuring passage 38 istransferred to the mixing cavity 39 by a centrifugal force generated bya rotation of the analyzing device 1. At this point, the plasmacomponent 18 a is transferred while moistening the surface of a coversubstrate 4. The surface moistened once decreases in surface tension andthus liquid easily spreads over the surface. Therefore, as shown in FIG.29(b), the oscillated mixing cavity 39 may cause the diluted plasma 40to spread to a path where the plasma component 18 a has passed, reachthe outlet of the measuring passage 38, and flow backward into themeasuring passage 38.

For this reason, in the present embodiment, the liquid level is alsocontrolled by the configuration of FIG. 30.

FIG. 30(a) is different from FIG. 29(a) in that the cover substrate 4includes a recessed section (hollow) 39 c. The recessed section 39 c isformed inside the liquid level (d1) of the diluted plasma 40 and isformed over a region (around the outlet of the measuring passage 38 anda bending section 39 b) where the diluted plasma 40 should not spread onthe surface of the cover substrate 4. At this point, on a wall surfacewhere an inlet 37 a of a capillary passage is provided, a region 39 f isleft that has a width w and includes no recessed sections.

With this configuration, even when the mixing cavity 39 is oscillated,the liquid level increasing to a path having been moistened by thetransferred plasma component 18 a can be suppressed by a surface tensionapplied to the step of the recessed section 39 c, so that the liquidlevel of the diluted plasma 40 can reach the inlet 37 a of the capillarypassage.

It is more effective to perform water-repellent finishing with arepellent on the inner surface of the recessed section 39 c formed onthe cover substrate 4.

FIG. 31 shows a state of the liquid level in the mixing cavity 39 at thestart of the suction of the diluted plasma 40 from the mixing cavity 39into a capillary passage 37.

Oscillations around the position of FIG. 19(a) can efficiently suck thediluted plasma 40 from the mixing cavity 39. Further, in the capillarypassage 37, a transport speed is increased by a capillary force and aforce of gravity applied to the diluted plasma flowing into thecapillary passage 37.

In a time period during which the diluted plasma 40 passes through thecapillary passage 37 and reaches measuring passages 47 a, 47 b, and 47 cand an overflow passage 47 d, repeated oscillations can suppress asurface tension of the diluted plasma 40 in the mixing cavity 39 with aninertial force of oscillation, thereby further increasing the transportrate.

Following the explanation of the configuration of the mixing cavity 39and the transfer method of the solution in accordance with FIGS. 25 to31, the size reduction of the analyzing device 1 in the presentembodiment will be described below in accordance with FIGS. 23 and 33.

FIG. 33(a) shows a layout of an overflow cavity 29 c disposed between areserving cavity 27 and the mixing cavity 39.

When a diluent 8 transferred to the reserving cavity 27 exceeds apredetermined quantity, the diluent 8 flows into an overflow cavity 29 athrough an overflow passage 28 a and then flows into the overflow cavity29 c through an overflow passage 28 b.

In this configuration, it is necessary to form the overflow cavity 29 cnext to the outer periphery position of the reserving cavity 27 toreduce the size of the analyzing device 1.

In FIG. 33(a), the plasma component 18 a and the diluent 8 aretransferred from the right of the mixing cavity 39. Thus it is difficultto transfer the mixed diluted plasma 40 from the right of the mixingcavity 39 to the subsequent process and it is necessary to transfer thediluted plasma 40 to the left of the mixing cavity 39.

However, the capillary passage 37 has to develop to the left through theouter periphery of the overflow cavity 29 c. Thus the position of themixing cavity 39 is determined by the radial position of the capillarypassage 37. The overflow cavity 29 c disposed between the reservingcavity 27 and the mixing cavity 39 expands the outside shape of theanalyzing device 1 to R2 by a distance ΔR1.

Further, the capillary passage 37 disposed on the outer periphery has along path developing to the inner periphery, increasing a loss of thediluted plasma 40.

FIG. 33(b) is a layout showing the overflow cavity 29 a extended in acircumferential direction.

Since the overflow cavity 29 a is extended in the circumferentialdirection, the mixing cavity 39 can be disposed next to the reservingcavity 27 on the inner periphery. However, the overflow cavity 29 a isdisposed on the left area and thus an inner position where the capillarypassage 37 can develop is shifted to the outer periphery by ΔR2. Thus aspace D1 containing a passage and a cavity for the subsequent process isreduced by ΔR2 to a space D2, so that it is difficult to arrange thepassage and the cavity. Consequently, the outside shape of the analyzingdevice 1 is increased by ΔR2 to R3.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the size of the analyzing device 1is reduced by the configuration of FIG. 33(c).

In FIG. 33(c), when the diluent 8 transferred to the reserving cavity 27exceeds a predetermined quantity, the diluent 8 flows into the overflowcavity 29 a through the overflow passage 28 a and then flows into theoverflow cavity 29 c, which is disposed at the outermost position,through the capillary passage 37, an overflow cavity 29 b, and theoverflow passage 28 b toward the outside of the overflow cavity 29 a inthe radial direction.

The mixing cavity 39 is adjacent to the outer periphery of the reservingcavity 27, and the capillary passage 37 passes between the overflowcavity 29 a and the overflow cavity 29 b in the circumferentialdirection. In other words, in addition to the path for transferring thediluent 8 to the outer periphery by a centrifugal force, a pathtransfers the diluent 8 in the circumferential direction by a capillaryforce.

With this layout, as shown in FIG. 23(a), a centrifugal force is appliedalong arrow Y in measurement of the diluent 8. The diluent 8 passingthrough the overflow cavity 29 a is transferred to the overflow cavity29 c without flowing into the mixing cavity 39 connected to onecircumferential end of the capillary passage 37.

In the case where the diluted plasma 40 is transferred from the mixingcavity 39 to the subsequent process through the capillary passage 37, asshown in FIG. 23(b), a capillary force is applied along arrow X. Thusthe diluted plasma 40 can be transferred without flowing into theoverflow cavities 29 a and 29 b formed next to the capillary passage 37.

At this point, the diluent 8 transferred to the overflow cavity 29 c andan overflow cavity 29 d is supplied to an overflow passage 28 d, theoverflow passage 28 b, and an overflow passage 28 c at the stop of therotation of the analyzing device 1, so that the outlets of the overflowcavities 29 c and 29 d are sealed from the atmosphere and a negativepressure is generated in the cavities. The overflow passage 28 d servesas an atmospheric-side overflow passage connected to an overflow cavity29 e serving as an atmospheric-side overflow cavity communicating withthe atmosphere. With this configuration, even when a liquid istransferred from the mixing cavity 39 to the capillary passage 37 duringoscillations, the diluent 8 does not flow out of the overflow cavity 29c and the diluted plasma 40 can be developed to the subsequent process.In the overflow cavities 29 c and 29 d, air bubbles 51 a and 51 b areformed.

With the analyzing device 1 configured thus according to the presentembodiment, a necessary passage pattern can be arranged without usingunnecessary regions such as ΔR1 and ΔR2, thereby reducing the size ofthe analyzing device 1.

In the present embodiment, the path for transferring a discharged liquidduring the measurement of the diluent 8 crosses the path fortransferring the mixed diluted plasma 40 to the subsequent process. Thepaths are not always used in limited processes.

Step 7

Further, when the turntable 101 is rotationally driven in the clockwisedirection (direction C2), as shown in FIG. 19(b), the diluted plasma 40retained in the measuring passages 47 a, 47 b, and 47 c overflows at thepositions of bending sections 48 a, 48 b, 48 c, and 48 d that areconnected to an opened-to-atmosphere cavity 50 communicating with theatmosphere, and then only a fixed quantity of the diluted plasma 40flows into measuring chambers 52 b and 52 c and a reserving cavity 53.

The diluted plasma 40 retained in the overflow passage 47 d at thispoint flows into an overflow cavity 54 through a backflow preventingpassage 55. At this point, the diluted plasma 40 in the capillarypassage 37 flows into the overflow cavity 29 c through the overflowcavity 29 b and the overflow passage 28 b.

On a part of the side wall of the measuring passage 47 a, a recessedsection 49 is formed near the bending section 48 a so as to communicatewith the opened-to-atmosphere cavity 50. Thus the adhesion of liquid onthe wall surface decreases near the bending section 48 a, so that theliquid is drained well at the bending section 48 a.

A measuring chamber 52 a and the measuring chambers 52 b and 52 c areextended in a direction along which a centrifugal force is applied. Tobe specific, the measuring chambers are extended from the center ofrotation to the outermost periphery of the analyzing device 1 so as tohave small widths in the circumferential direction of the analyzingdevice 1.

The bottoms of the outer peripheries of the multiple measuring chambers52 a to 52 c are arranged at the same radius of the analyzing device 1.Thus in measurements of the multiple measuring chambers 52 a to 52 c, itis not necessary to provide multiple light sources 112 of the samewavelength and multiple photodetectors 113 at different radius distancesfor the respective light sources 112, thereby reducing the cost of anapparatus. Since measurement can be conducted using differentwavelengths in the same measurement cell, the sensitivity of measurementcan be improved by selecting the optimum wavelength according to theconcentration of a mixed solution.

On one side walls of the measuring chambers 52 a to 52 c in thecircumferential direction, capillary areas 56 a to 56 c are formed so asto extend from the outer periphery positions to the inner peripheries ofthe measuring chambers. FIG. 34 is an F-F sectional view of FIG. 19(b).

The suction capacity of the capillary area 56 b is not so large as tofully accommodate the sample liquid retained in the measuring chamber 52b. Similarly, the capacities of the capillary areas 56 a and 56 c arenot so large as to fully accommodate the sample liquid retained in themeasuring chambers 52 a and 52 c.

The optical path lengths of the measuring chambers 52 a to 52 c areadjusted according to the range of absorbance obtained from a mixedsolution after a reaction of a component to be tested and reagents.

As shown in FIG. 35(a), in the capillary areas 56 a, 56 b, and 56 c,reagents 58 a 1, 58 a 2, 58 b 1, 58 b 2, 58 b 3, 58 c 1, and 58 c 2 tobe reacted with a component to be tested are respectively contained inreagent containing sections 57 a 1, 57 a 2, 57 b 1, 57 b 2, 57 b 3, 57 c1, and 57 c 2 formed in the capillary areas 56 a, 56 b, and 56 c. FIG.35(b) is a G-G sectional view of FIG. 35(a).

The reagent containing sections 57 b 1, 57 b 2, and 57 b 3 are protrudedfrom the capillary area 56 b such that a clearance between the reagentcontaining sections 57 b 1, 57 b 2, and 57 b 3 and the cover substrate 4is smaller than a clearance between the capillary area 56 b and thecover substrate 4.

By applying the reagents 58 b 1, 58 b 2, and 58 b 3 to the reagentcontaining sections 57 b 1, 57 b 2, and 57 b 3, the expansion of thereagents 58 b 1, 58 b 2, and 58 b 3 can be suppressed by steps formed bythe reagent containing sections 57 b 1, 57 b 2, and 57 b 3 and thecapillary area 56 b. Thus the different reagents can be containedwithout being mixed.

The clearance of the reagent containing sections 57 b 1, 57 b 2, and 57b 3 is smaller than that of the capillary area 56 b and thus liquidsucked into the capillary area 56 b is reliably supplied into thereagent containing sections 57 b 1, 57 b 2, and 57 b 3. Consequently,the reagents 58 b 1, 58 b 2, and 58 b 3 can be reliably dissolved.

The capillary area 56 b has a clearance of about 50 μm to 300 μm, whichenables the application of a capillary force. Thus the reagentcontaining sections 57 b 1, 57 b 2, and 57 b 3 are protruded from thecapillary area 56 b only by about several tens μm. The capillary areas56 a and 56 c have similar configurations.

Step 8

Next, the rotation of the turntable 101 is stopped, the analyzing device1 is set at the position of FIG. 20(a), and the turntable 101 iscontrolled at a frequency of 60 Hz to 120 Hz so as to oscillate theanalyzing device 1 by about ±1 mm, so that the diluted plasma 40retained in the reserving cavity 53 is transferred to an operationcavity 61 by the action of a capillary force through a connectingsection 59. The connecting section 59 is formed on the side wall of thereserving cavity 53 so as to be immersed under the liquid level of thediluted plasma 40.

Further, the turntable 101 is controlled at a frequency of 120 Hz to 200Hz to agitate reagents 67 a and 67 b contained in the operation cavity61 shown in FIG. 36(a) and the diluted plasma 40, so that a specificcomponent in the diluted plasma 40 is reacted with the reagents.

The diluted plasma 40 transferred to the measuring chambers 52 b and 52c is sucked into the capillary areas 56 b and 56 c by a capillary forceas shown in FIG. 20(a). At this point, the reagents 58 b 1, 58 b 2, 58 b3, 58 c 1, and 58 c 2 start dissolving and the specific component in thediluted plasma 40 starts reacting with the reagents.

As shown in FIG. 36(a), the operation cavity 61 is formed next to thereserving cavity 53 in the circumferential direction with respect to therotation axis 107. A clearance of the operation cavity 61 from the coversubstrate 4 enables the application of a capillary force, and thereagents 67 a and 67 b are contained in reagent containing sections 65 aand 65 b. In the operation cavity 61, an agitating rib 63 extended inthe radial direction is formed around the reagents 67 a and 67 b, to bespecific, between the reagents 67 a and 67 b.

As shown in FIG. 36(b), the cross sectional dimensions of the agitatingrib 63 in the thickness direction of the cover substrate 4 are smallerthan the cross sectional dimensions of the operation cavity 61 in thethickness direction of the cover substrate 4.

The reagent containing sections 65 a and 65 b are protruded from theoperation cavity 61 such that a clearance between the reagent containingsections 65 a and 65 b and the cover substrate 4 is smaller than that ofthe operation cavity 61 from the cover substrate 4.

Since the clearance of the reagent containing sections 65 a and 65 b issmaller than that of the operation cavity 61, liquid flowing into theoperation cavity 61 is reliably supplied to the reagent containingsections 65 a and 65 b. Thus the reagents 67 a and 67 b can be reliablydissolved. The reagent containing sections 65 a and 65 b are protrudedfrom the operation cavity 61 only by about several tens μm.

On the inner periphery side of the operation cavity 61, a cavity 62 isformed that is connected to the reserving cavity 53 via a communicatingsection 60. The clearance of the cavity 62 from the cover substrate 4does not enable the application of a capillary force. Further, thecavity 62 communicates with the atmosphere through the air hole 25hformed near the communicating section 60.

The reserving cavity 53 and the operation cavity 61 are connected viathe connecting section 59 that is extended from the side wall of thereserving cavity 53 through the communicating section 60. The clearanceof the connecting section 59 from the cover substrate 2 enables theapplication of a capillary force. In this configuration, the end of theconnecting section 59 is circumferentially extended farther than theliquid level of the diluted plasma 40 contained in the reserving cavity53, with respect to the rotation axis.

On the outer periphery of the operation cavity 61, a separating cavity66 is formed. The separating cavity 66 is connected to the operationcavity 61 via a connecting passage 64. The cross sectional dimensions ofthe connecting passage 64 from the cover substrate 4 in the thicknessdirection form a clearance enabling the application of a capillaryforce. The cross sectional dimensions are regulated so as to have alarger capillary force than that of the operation cavity 61.

Although the space of the operation cavity 61 filled with the dilutedplasma 40 is as large as the clearance, a small space 61 a not filledwith the diluted plasma 40 is left.

In the state of FIG. 20(a), the diluted plasma 40 comes into contactwith the reagents 67 a and 67 b and the reagents 67 a and 67 b dissolvein the diluted plasma 40. In this state, the analyzing device 1 isoscillated by a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis107, so that the diluted plasma 40 in the operation cavity 61 is movedby the space 61 a in the operation cavity 61 and collides with theagitating rib 63 during agitation, achieving more reliable agitation.Thus even when the reagents have high specific gravities, it is possibleto effectively prevent precipitation of the reagents.

Step 9

Next, the turntable 101 is rotationally driven in the clockwisedirection (direction C2), so that as shown in FIG. 20(b), the dilutedplasma having reacted with the reagents of the operation cavity 61passes through the connecting passage 64 and flows into the separatingcavity 66. Further, by keeping the high-speed rotation, aggregatesgenerated in the operation cavity 61 are centrifugally separated. In thepresent embodiment, in a reaction of a component to be inspected and thereagents, a component inhibiting the reaction is removed in an upstreamprocess. By reacting the diluted plasma with the reagents in theoperation cavity 61, a specific component inhibiting a reaction in adownstream process is coagulated and aggregates are removed bycentrifugal separation in the subsequent process.

Further, a mixed solution of the reagents retained in the capillaryareas 56 b and 56 c and the diluted plasma is transferred to the outerperipheries of the measuring chambers 52 b and 52 c by a centrifugalforce, so that the reagents and the diluted plasma are agitated.

In this configuration, the analyzing device 1 is repeatedly rotated andstopped to accelerate the agitation of the reagents and the dilutedplasma. Thus it is possible to reliably perform agitation in a shorttime as compared with agitation performed only by diffusion.

Step 10

Next, when the rotation of the turntable 101 is stopped, the dilutedplasma 40 is sucked into a capillary cavity 69 formed on the wallsurface of the separating cavity 66 and flows, as shown in FIG. 21(a),into a measuring passage 80 through a connecting passage 70communicating with the capillary cavity 69, so that a fixed quantity ofthe diluted plasma 40 is retained.

Moreover, the diluted plasma 40 containing the aggregates in theseparating cavity 66 is sucked into a siphon-shaped connecting passage68 that connects the separating cavity 66 and an overflow cavity 81 a.

The mixed solution of the reagents and the diluted plasma in themeasuring chambers 52 b and 52 c is sucked into the capillary areas 56 band 56 c again by a capillary force.

As shown in FIG. 21(a), the outermost position of the capillary cavity69 is extended to the outer periphery of the analyzing device 1 so as tobe immersed in the diluted plasma retained in the separating cavity 66.

The capillary cavity 69 formed thus preferentially sucks the supernatantdiluted plasma rather than a precipitate having a high specific gravity,so that the diluted plasma 40 free of precipitates can be transferred tothe measuring passage 80 through the connecting passage 70.

Step 11

When the turntable 101 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction(direction C2), as shown in FIG. 21(b), the diluted plasma 40 retainedin the measuring passage 80 overflows at the position of a bendingsection 84 that is connected to an opened-to-atmosphere cavity 83communicating with the atmosphere, and then only a fixed quantity of thediluted plasma 40 flows into the measuring chamber 52 a.

The diluted plasma 40 in the separating cavity 66, the connectingpassage 70, and the capillary cavity 69 flows into the overflow cavity81 a through the siphon-shaped connecting passage 68.

The mixed solution of the reagents retained in the capillary areas 56 band 56 c and the diluted plasma is transferred to the outer peripheriesof the measuring chambers 52 b and 52 c by a centrifugal force, so thatthe reagents and the diluted plasma are agitated.

At this point, the diluted plasma 40 transferred to the overflow cavity81 a is supplied to an overflow passage 82 c when the rotation of theanalyzing device 1 is stopped, the overflow passage 82 c being connectedto an overflow cavity 81 b communicating with the atmosphere. Thus theoutlet of the overflow cavity 81 a is sealed from the atmosphere and anegative pressure is generated in the cavity 81 a. It is thereforepossible to prevent the diluted plasma 40 from passing through theconnecting passage 68 from the overflow cavity 81 a.

Step 12

Next, when the rotation of the turntable 101 is stopped, as shown inFIG. 22(a), the diluted plasma 40 transferred to the measuring chamber52 a is sucked into the capillary area 56 a by a capillary force. Atthis point, the reagents 58 a 1 and 58 a 2 start dissolving and thespecific component in the diluted plasma 40 starts reacting with thereagents.

Further, a mixed solution of the reagents and the diluted plasma in themeasuring chambers 52 b and 52 c is sucked into the capillary areas 56 band 56 c again by a capillary force.

Step 13

When the turntable 101 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction(direction C2), as shown in FIG. 22(b), a mixed solution of the reagentsretained in the capillary areas 56 a, 56 b, and 56 c and the dilutedplasma is transferred to the outer peripheries of the measuring chambers52 a, 52 b, and 52 c by a centrifugal force, so that the reagents andthe diluted plasma are agitated.

The operations of steps 11 and 12 are repeatedly performed for thediluted plasma 40 transferred to the measuring chamber 52 a, therebyaccelerating the agitation of the reagents and the diluted plasma 40.Thus it is possible to reliably perform agitation in a short time ascompared with agitation performed only by diffusion.

Step 14

The analyzing device 1 is rotationally driven in a counterclockwisedirection (direction C1) or the clockwise direction (direction C2) andthe measuring chambers 52 a, 52 b, and 52 c pass between the lightsource 112 and the photodetector 113. At this point, the arithmetic unit110 reads a detected value of the photodetector 113 and calculates theconcentration of the specific component. When the diluted plasma 40flows into the measuring chambers 52 a, 52 b, and 52 c in steps 7 and11, the arithmetic unit 110 reads a detected value of the photodetector113 during the passage of the measuring chambers 52 a, 52 b, and 52 cbetween the light source 112 and the photodetector 113, so thatabsorbance can be calculated before a reaction with the reagents. In thecalculation of the arithmetic unit 110, the absorbance is used asreference data of the measuring chambers 52 a, 52 b, and 52 c, improvingthe accuracy of measurement.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, when the diluted plasma 40 is transferred to adownstream process through the capillary passage 37, as shown in FIG.37(a), the analyzing device 1 is tilted and stopped at a position wherethe diluted plasma 40 in the mixing cavity 39 comes into contact withthe inlet of the capillary passage 37. In a second embodiment of FIG.37(b), when a capillary passage 37 b extending to the bottom of a mixingcavity 39 is formed on the side wall of the mixing cavity 39, dilutedplasma 40 in the mixing cavity 39 can be transferred to the inlet of acapillary passage 37 through the capillary passage 37 b. Thus it is notnecessary to tilt the analyzing device 1 as shown in FIG. 37(a).

In the foregoing embodiments, optical access is made in the measuringchambers and a component is measured according to attenuation. Acomponent is similarly measured by electrically accessing a reactant ofa reagent and a sample in the measuring chambers.

Third Embodiment

FIGS. 38 and 39 show a third embodiment of the present invention.

The analyzing device is similar to FIG. 59 of the related art in that abase substrate 3 having microchannels 204 a and 204 b and a coversubstrate 4 closing the opening of the base substrate 3 are bonded toeach other. The arrangement of a measuring chamber 210 relative to aliquid storage chamber 209 on the base substrate 3 and the connection ofthe measuring chamber 210 and an overflow chamber 211 are different fromthose of FIG. 61.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view showing the principle part of the basesubstrate 3. FIG. 39 is a plan view of FIG. 38.

An inlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211 is disposed in the same radialdirection of rotation as an overflow port 214 of the measuring chamber210. The inlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211 and the overflow port 214of the measuring chamber 210 are connected via a third capillary passage217 c extending along the same radial direction of rotation. In FIG. 39,reference character L1 in the measuring chamber 210 denotes a liquidlevel of a sample liquid in a state in which a specified quantity of thesample liquid is sampled after the sample liquid flows into themeasuring chamber 210 from the liquid storage chamber 209 through afirst connecting passage 213 a. An excessive sample liquid in themeasuring chamber 210 exceeds the installation level of the thirdcapillary passage 217 c and flows into the overflow chamber 211, so thata fixed quantity of the sample liquid is sampled in the measuringchamber 210.

The outermost periphery of the measuring chamber 210 is connected to ameasurement cell 212 via a siphon-shaped connecting passage 215 having abent pipe disposed between the rotation axis of the analyzing device andthe interface between the inlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211 and thecapillary passage 217 c. Reference numeral 208 denotes an inletcommunicating with the atmosphere and reference numerals 218 and 219denote air holes communicating with the atmosphere. The connectingpassage 215 is 0.5 mm to 2 mm in width and is 50 μm to 200 μm in depth.The width and depth of the connecting passage 215 are not particularlylimited as long as the connecting passage 215 can be filled with thesample liquid by a capillary force.

Comparing FIG. 61 and FIG. 39, the configuration of the presentembodiment makes it possible to reduce a space S between the outerperiphery of the liquid storage chamber 209 and the inner periphery ofthe measuring chamber 210 unlike in FIG. 61. In FIG. 61, the singlemeasurement cell 212 is provided in the limited radial dimensions of theanalyzing device, whereas in the third embodiment, the analyzing devicehaving the same radial dimensions as in FIG. 61 may be provided withmultiple measurement cells 212. In the case where the single measurementcell 212 is provided as in FIG. 61, the analyzing device can be reducedin size.

Further, a capillary valve 222 may be provided at a point of theconnecting passage 215 to connect the measuring chamber 210 and themeasurement cell 212, as indicated by a virtual line between theoutermost position of the measuring chamber 210 and the measurement cell212 in the radial direction of rotation.

The liquid storage chamber 209, the measuring chamber 210, the overflowchamber 211, and the measurement cell 212 are 0.3 mm to 2 mm in depth.The depths can be adjusted according to conditions (including an opticalpath length, a measured wavelength, the reaction concentration of thesample liquid, and the kind of reagent) for measuring the quantity andthe absorbance of the sample liquid.

The cross sectional dimensions of the first connecting passage 213 a inat least one of the thickness direction and the width direction aresmaller than the cross sectional dimensions of the third capillarypassage 217 c in the thickness direction and the width direction suchthat the flow rate of liquid passing through the first connectingpassage 213 a is smaller than the flow rate of liquid passing throughthe third capillary passage 217 c. To be specific, the first connectingpassage 213 a is a capillary tube that is 50 μm to 200 μm in depth andhas cross sectional dimensions smaller than those of the third capillarypassage 217 c in the thickness direction. Thus when the sample liquid istransferred from the liquid storage chamber 209 to the measuring chamber210 and is measured therein, it is possible to prevent the liquid levelof the sample liquid retained in the connecting passage 215 fromexceeding the innermost point of the connecting passage 215 and thusprevent the measured sample liquid from being transferred to themeasurement cell 212, thereby further stabilizing a measuring process.

Fourth Embodiment

FIGS. 40 and 41 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 61 of the related art, the inlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211is disposed inside the overflow port 214 of the measuring chamber 210 inthe radial direction of rotation, and the inlet 216 of the overflowchamber 211 and the overflow port 214 of the measuring chamber 210 areconnected via the capillary passage 217. In the fourth embodiment, asshown in FIG. 41, an inlet 216 of an overflow chamber 211 is disposedoutside an overflow port 214 of a measuring chamber 210 in the radialdirection of rotation, and the inlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211 andthe overflow port 214 of the measuring chamber 210 are connected via afourth capillary passage 217 d. Other configurations are similar tothose of FIG. 39 and components having the same effects are indicated bythe same reference numerals.

In FIG. 41, reference character L1 in the measuring chamber 210 denotesa liquid level of a sample liquid in a state in which a specifiedquantity of the sample liquid is sampled in the measuring chamber 210after the sample liquid flows from a liquid storage chamber 209. Anexcessive quantity of the sample liquid in the measuring chamber 210from the liquid storage chamber 209 exceeds the installation level ofthe fourth capillary passage 217 d and flows into the overflow chamber211, so that a specified quantity of the sample liquid is sampled in themeasuring chamber 210.

Comparing FIG. 61 and FIG. 41, the configuration of the fourthembodiment in FIG. 41 makes it possible to reduce a space S between theouter periphery of the liquid storage chamber 209 and the innerperiphery of the measuring chamber 210 unlike in FIG. 61. In FIG. 61,the single measurement cell 212 is provided in the limited radialdimensions of the analyzing device, whereas in the fourth embodiment,the analyzing device having the same radial dimensions as in FIG. 61 canbe provided with multiple measurement cells 212. In the case where thesingle measurement cell 212 is provided as in FIG. 61, the analyzingdevice can be reduced in size.

As in the third embodiment of FIG. 39, a capillary valve 222 may beprovided at a point of a connecting passage 215 to connect the measuringchamber 210 and the measurement cell 212, as indicated by a virtual linebetween the outermost position of the measuring chamber 210 and themeasurement cell 212 in the radial direction of rotation.

The liquid storage chamber 209, the measuring chamber 210, the overflowchamber 211, and the measurement cell 212 are 0.3 mm to 2 mm in depth.The depths can be adjusted according to conditions (including an opticalpath length, a measured wavelength, the reaction concentration of thesample liquid, and the kind of reagent) for measuring the quantity andthe absorbance of the sample liquid.

The cross sectional dimensions of a first connecting passage 213 a in atleast one of the thickness direction and the width direction are smallerthan the cross sectional dimensions of the fourth capillary passage 217d in the thickness direction and the width direction such that the flowrate of liquid passing through the first connecting passage 213 a issmaller than the flow rate of liquid passing through the fourthcapillary passage 217 d. To be specific, the first connecting passage213 a is a capillary tube that is 50 μm to 200 μm in depth and has crosssectional dimensions smaller than those of the fourth capillary passage217 d in the thickness direction. Thus when the sample liquid istransferred from the liquid storage chamber 209 to the measuring chamber210 and is measured therein, it is possible to prevent the liquid levelof the sample liquid retained in the connecting passage 215 fromexceeding the innermost point of the connecting passage 215 and thusprevent the measured sample liquid from being transferred to themeasurement cell 212, thereby further stabilizing a measuring process.

Fifth Embodiment

In the third and fourth embodiments, the sample liquid is injected intothe liquid storage chamber 209. When the sample liquid is a test objectdiluted with a diluent, it is necessary to provide a mixing device formixing a fixed quantity of the test object and a fixed quantity of thediluent, a measuring chamber for measuring a fixed quantity from thediluent, and an overflow chamber for receiving an excessive quantity ofthe diluent, upstream of the liquid storage chamber 209 of the basesubstrate 3. In this case, in the third and fourth embodiments,configurations are further provided that are similar to specificconfigurations for metering the sample liquid in the measuring chamber,receiving an excessive sample liquid in the overflow chamber, andtransferring the sample liquid metered in the measuring chamber to thesubsequent stage of the measuring chamber, upstream of the liquidstorage chamber 209 of the base substrate 3, so that the diluent can bemetered and an excessive diluent can be received with a small space.

FIG. 42 shows a modification of the third embodiment as a specificexample.

On a base substrate 3 of an analyzing device shown in FIG. 42, a firstgroup G1 is formed for measuring a diluent and transferring the diluentto a mixing chamber 209 c, a second group G2 is formed for measuringblood and transferring the blood to the mixing chamber 209 c, and athird group G3 is formed for transferring a sample liquid mixed in themixing chamber 209 c to a measurement cell 212. The first, second, andthird groups G1 to G3 have similar basic configurations. A diluentretaining section 209 a and a blood retaining section 209 b correspondto the liquid storage chamber 209 of the third embodiment. A diluentmeasuring chamber 210 a, a blood metering chamber 210 b, and a sampleliquid measuring section 210 c correspond to the measuring chamber 210of the third embodiment. A diluent overflow chamber 211 a, a blooddischarging chamber 211 b, and a sample liquid overflow chamber 211 ccorrespond to the overflow chamber 211 of the third embodiment.

The diluent injected from an inlet 208 a to the diluent retainingsection 209 a flows into the diluent measuring chamber 210 a through afirst connecting passage 213 a. An excessive quantity of the diluent inthe diluent measuring chamber 210 a flows into the diluent overflowchamber 211 a through a fifth capillary passage 217 e corresponding tothe third capillary passage 217 c of the third embodiment. The diluentmetered in the diluent measuring chamber 210 a flows into the mixingchamber 209 c through a siphon-shaped first connecting passage 215 a.

Blood injected from an inlet 208 b to the blood retaining section 209 bflows into the blood metering chamber 210 b through a second connectingpassage 213 b. An excessive quantity of the blood in the blood meteringchamber 210 b flows into the blood discharging chamber 211 b through asixth capillary passage 217 f corresponding to the third capillarypassage 217 c of the third embodiment. The blood metered in the bloodmetering chamber 210 b flows into the mixing chamber 209 c through asiphon-shaped second connecting passage 215 b.

The metered blood and the metered diluent are mixed in the mixingchamber 209 c and flow into the sample liquid measuring section 210 cthrough a siphon-shaped third connecting passage 215 c. An excessivequantity of the sample liquid in the sample liquid measuring section 210c flows into the sample liquid overflow chamber 211 c through a seventhcapillary passage 217 g corresponding to the third capillary passage 217c of the third embodiment. The metered sample liquid in the sampleliquid measuring section 210 c flows into the measurement cell 212through a siphon-shaped fourth connecting passage 215 d.

The fifth capillary passage 217 e extending along the same radiusconnects the diluent measuring chamber 210 a and the diluent overflowchamber 211 a, thereby reducing a space between the diluent retainingsection 209 a and the diluent measuring chamber 210 a in the first groupG1. Further, the sixth capillary passage 217 f extending along the sameradius connects the blood metering chamber 210 b and the blooddischarging chamber 211 b, thereby reducing a space between the bloodretaining section 209 b and the blood metering chamber 210 b in thesecond group G2. Moreover, the seventh capillary passage 217 g extendingalong the same radius connects the sample liquid measuring section 210 cand the sample liquid overflow chamber 211 c, thereby reducing a spacebetween the mixing chamber 209 c and the sample liquid measuring section210 c in the third group G3. Consequently, the chambers arranged in theradial direction can be arranged closer to the inner periphery of theanalyzing device, reducing the size of the analyzing device.

As has been discussed, a fixed quantity of the sample liquid is measuredand an excessive quantity of the sample liquid is received, or a fixedquantity of the diluent and a fixed quantity of the sample liquid aremeasured and an excessive quantity of the diluent and an excessivequantity of the sample liquid are received. In the case where only afixed quantity of the diluent is measured and an excessive quantity ofthe diluent is received, the configurations of the third and fourthembodiments can be implemented only by replacing the sample liquid withthe diluent.

Sixth Embodiment

FIGS. 43, 44, and 45 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing the principle part of a basesubstrate 3. FIG. 44 is a plan view of FIG. 43.

In the foregoing embodiments, the single measuring chamber 210, thesingle overflow chamber 211, and the single measurement cell 212 areprovided for the single liquid storage chamber 209. The presentembodiment is different from these embodiments in that an overflowchamber 211, first and second measuring chambers 210 d and 210 e, andfirst and second measurement cells 212 a and 212 b are provided for aliquid storage chamber 209.

As shown in FIGS. 43 and 44, with respect to a rotation axis 107 servingas the rotation axis of an analyzing device during analysis, the liquidstorage chamber 209 containing a sample liquid to be analyzed isprovided on the innermost periphery of the base substrate 3. Outside theliquid storage chamber 209 in the radial direction of rotation, thefirst measuring chamber 210 d and the second measuring chamber 210 e areformed. The first measuring chamber 210 d is connected to the liquidstorage chamber 209 via a first connecting passage 213 a.

The second measuring chamber 210 e is connected to the liquid storagechamber 209 via a second connecting passage 213 b.

On the base substrate 3, the overflow chamber 211 is formed between thefirst measuring chamber 210 d and the second measuring chamber 210 e. Aninlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211 and a first overflow port 214 a ofthe first measuring chamber 210 d are connected via a first capillarypassage 217 a extending along the same radial direction of rotation. Theinlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211 and a second overflow port 214 bof the second measuring chamber 210 e are connected via a secondcapillary passage 217 b extending along the same radial direction ofrotation.

The outermost periphery of the first measuring chamber 210 d isconnected to the first measurement cell 212 a via a siphon-shaped firstconnecting passage 215 a having a bent pipe disposed between therotation axis of the analyzing device and the interface between theinlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211 and the first capillary passage217 a. The outermost periphery of the second measuring chamber 210 e isconnected to the second measurement cell 212 b via a siphon-shapedsecond connecting passage 215 b having a bent pipe disposed between therotation axis of the analyzing device and the interface between theinlet 216 of the overflow chamber 211 and the second capillary passage217 b. The first and second connecting passages 215 a and 215 b are 0.5mm to 2 mm in width and 50 μm to 200 μm in depth. The widths and depthsof the first and second connecting passages 215 a and 215 b are notparticularly limited as long as the connecting passages can be filledwith the sample liquid by a capillary force.

The cross sectional dimensions of the first and second connectingpassages 213 a and 213 b in at least one of the thickness direction andthe width direction are smaller than the cross sectional dimensions ofthe first and second capillary passages 217 a and 217 b in the thicknessdirection and the width direction such that the flow rates of liquidpassing through the first and second connecting passages 213 a and 213 bare smaller than the flow rates of liquid passing through the first andsecond capillary passages 217 a and 217 b. To be specific, the first andsecond connecting passages 213 a and 213 b are capillary tubes that are50 μm to 200 μm in depth and have cross sectional dimensions smallerthan those of the first and second capillary passages 217 a and 217 b inthe thickness direction. Thus when the sample liquid is transferred fromthe liquid storage chamber 209 to a measuring chamber 210 and ismeasured therein, it is possible to prevent the liquid level of thesample liquid retained in a connecting passage 215 from exceeding theinnermost point of the connecting passage 215 and thus prevent themeasured sample liquid from being transferred to a measurement cell 212,thereby further stabilizing a measuring process.

The overflow chamber 211 further includes a sill 220 that limits thecross sectional dimensions of the overflow chamber 211 in the thicknessdirection to enable the application of a capillary force. Referencecharacters 218 a, 218 b, 219 a, 219 b, and 221 denote air holescommunicating with the atmosphere. The air hole 221 is formed in an areawhere a capillary force is not applied inside the sill 220 of theoverflow chamber 211. Thus an excessive quantity of the sample liquidsmoothly flows from the first and second measuring chambers 210 d and210 e to the overflow chamber 211.

FIGS. 45(a) to 45(d) show the transfer process of the analyzing device.

As shown in FIG. 45(a), the sample liquid is injected from an inlet 208and is stored in the liquid storage chamber 209 and then the analyzingdevice is rotated, so that as shown in FIG. 45(b), the sample liquid canbe transferred to the first and second measuring chambers 210 d and 210e through the first and second connecting passages 213 a and 213 b.Portions of the sample liquid transferred to the first and secondmeasuring chambers. 210 d and 210 e overflow the first and secondcapillary passages 217 a and 217 b from the first and second overflowports 214 a and 214 b and flow into the overflow chamber 211. At thispoint, the sample liquid in the first and second connecting passages 215a and 215 b reaches only a position corresponding to a distance from therotation axis of the analyzing device to the interface between the inlet216 of the overflow chamber 211 and the first and second capillarypassages 217 a and 217 b in the radial direction of rotation.

When the analyzing device is decelerated or stopped after the first andsecond measuring chambers 210 d and 210 e are filled with the sampleliquid, as shown in FIG. 45(c), a capillary force is applied in thefirst and second connecting passages 215 a and 215 b and the sampleliquid reaches the inlets of the first and second measurement cells 212a and 212 b. At this point, the first and second measurement cells 212 aand 212 b have a large depth and receive a capillary force quite smallerthan the capillary force of the first and second connecting passages 215a and 215 b. Thus the sample liquid does not flow into the first andsecond measurement cells 212 a and 212 b.

Further, the provision of the sill 220 prevents the sample liquid fromflowing backward from the overflow chamber 211 to the first and secondmeasuring chambers 210 d and 210 e when the analyzing device isdecelerated or stopped.

After the first and second connecting passages 215 a and 215 b arefilled with the sample liquid, the analyzing device is rotated again, sothat as shown in FIG. 45(d), the sample liquid retained in the first andsecond measuring chambers 210 d and 210 e is transferred to the firstand second measurement cells 212 a and 212 b by a siphon action and isanalyzed separately in the first and second measurement cells 212 a and212 b.

On the base substrate 3, the single overflow chamber 211, the measuringchambers 210 d and 210 e, and the first and second measurement cells 212a and 212 b are properly formed for the single liquid storage chamber209. In the case where the analyzing device has the same radialdimensions as in FIG. 61, multiple measurement cells 212 may beprovided.

Further, capillary valves 222 a and 222 b may be respectively providedat points of the first and second connecting passages 215 a and 215 b toconnect the first and second measuring chambers 210 d and 210 e and thefirst and second measurement cells 212 a and 212 b, as indicated byvirtual lines between the outermost positions of the first and secondmeasuring chambers 210 d and 210 e and the first and second measurementcells 212 a and 212 b in the radial direction of rotation.

The liquid storage chamber 209, the first and second measuring chambers210 d and 210 e, the overflow chamber 211, and the first and secondmeasurement cells 212 a and 212 b are 0.3 mm to 2 mm in depth. Thedepths can be adjusted according to conditions (including an opticalpath length, a measured wavelength, the reaction concentration of thesample liquid, and the kind of reagent) for measuring the quantity andthe absorbance of the sample liquid.

Seventh Embodiment

FIGS. 46 and 47 show a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

The seventh embodiment shows a specific example of an analyzing devicein which the configuration of the sixth embodiment is developed on abase substrate 3.

In the analyzing device formed by joining the base substrate 3 and acover substrate (not shown in FIGS. 46 and 47) 4, blood dropped to ablood dropping section 223 is sucked into a blood retaining section 225through a microchannel 224 formed between the base substrate 3 and thecover substrate 4. Further, a diluent is set in a diluent container (notshown) set in a diluent reservoir 226. In this state, the analyzingdevice is rotationally driven about a rotation axis 107, so that bloodis metered in a blood metering chamber 229 through a blood separatingsection 228. Excessive blood is collected to a blood discharging section230. The diluent is metered in a diluent metering chamber 231. Anexcessive diluent is collected to a diluent discharging section 232through a capillary passage 236. The blood metered in the blood meteringchamber 229 and the diluent metered in the diluent metering chamber 231are mixed in a mixing section 233 and are transferred to a liquidstorage chamber 209.

The diluted blood transferred as the sample liquid to the liquid storagechamber 209 is transferred to first and second measuring chambers 210 dand 210 e through first and second connecting passages 213 a and 213 band is metered therein. Excessive diluted blood is collected to anoverflow chamber 211 through first and second capillary passages 217 aand 217 b. The analyzing device is rotated again, so that the dilutedblood metered in the first and second measuring chambers 210 d and 210 eis transferred to first and second measurement cells 212 a and 212 bfrom the first and second measuring chambers 210 d and 210 e throughsiphon-shaped first and second connecting passages 215 a and 215 b, andis analyzed separately in the first and second measurement cells 212 aand 212 b. In the first and second measurement cells 212 a and 212 b,reagents 234 a, 234 b, and 234 c are set.

In the seventh embodiment, the diluent metering chamber 231 formeasuring a fixed quantity of the diluent is curved around the diluentreservoir 226, the diluent discharging section 232 for receiving anexcessive diluent from the diluent metering chamber 231 is also formedaround the diluent reservoir 226, and the capillary passage 236connecting the diluent metering chamber 231 and the diluent dischargingsection 232 is extended along the same radial direction of rotation likethe first and second capillary passages 217 a and 217 b. Thisconfiguration effectively reduces the size of the analyzing device. Inthis case, the cross sectional dimensions of a connecting passage 237 inat least one of the thickness direction and the width direction aresmaller than the cross sectional dimensions of the capillary passage 236in the thickness direction and the width direction such that the flowrate of liquid passing through the connecting passage 237 connecting thediluent reservoir 226 and the diluent metering chamber 231 is smallerthan the flow rate of liquid passing through the capillary passage 236.In the seventh embodiment, an excessive quantity of the sample liquid inthe liquid storage chamber 209 passes through the diluent dischargingsection 232 through a capillary passage 238 and is received by third andfourth measurement cells 212 c and 212 d.

Eighth Embodiment

FIG. 48 shows an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

In the seventh and eighth embodiments, the sill 220 is formed in theoverflow chamber 211 to reduce a clearance from the cover substrate 4 toa space enabling the application of a capillary force. The sill 220 maybe removed in the present embodiment.

In FIG. 48, an absorbent material 235 is disposed in an overflow chamber211. A sample liquid flowing into the overflow chamber 211 is absorbedby the absorbent material 235. Thus when the analyzing device isdecelerated or stopped, it is possible to prevent the sample liquid fromflowing backward from the overflow chamber 211 to first and secondmeasuring chambers 210 d and 210 e. The seventh embodiment may besimilarly configured.

Ninth Embodiment

FIGS. 49 to 54 show a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 51, an analyzing device 1 has a disc-like shape and isrotationally driven about a rotation axis 107. The rotation axis 107 istilted such that the rotationally driven analyzing device 1 is tilted bya predetermined angle of 0° to 45° relative to a level. Thepredetermined angle is preferably 10° to 45°.

As shown in FIG. 52, the analyzing device 1 is configured such that abase substrate 3 is bonded via an adhesive layer 300 to a coversubstrate 4 closing the opening of the base substrate 3. The basesubstrate 3 includes a microchannel liquid storage chamber 241, a firstreserving cavity 243, an operation cavity 245, and second reservingcavities 247 and 248.

FIG. 49 is a perspective view showing the principle part of the basesubstrate 3. FIG. 50 is a plan view of FIG. 49. FIG. 53 shows an A-Asectional view, a B-B sectional view, and a C-C sectional view of FIG.50.

The liquid storage chamber 241 is formed between the rotation axis andthe first reserving cavity 243 of the base substrate 3. The liquidstorage chamber 241 receives a sample liquid from a through hole 244.The liquid storage chamber 241 and the first reserving cavity 243 areconnected via a communicating passage 242. As shown in FIG. 53(a), aclearance of the communicating passage 242 from the cover substrate 4 isformed so as to enable the application of a capillary force.

The operation cavity 245 is formed next to the first reserving cavity243 of the base substrate 3 with respect to the rotation axis in thecircumferential direction. A clearance of the operation cavity 245 fromthe cover substrate 4 is formed so as to enable the application of acapillary force and the operation cavity 245 contains first reagents 249and 250. In the operation cavity 245, an agitating rib 251 is formedaround the first reagents 249 and 250, to be specific, the agitating rib251 extends between the first reagents 249 and 250 in the radialdirection. The cross sectional dimensions of the agitating rib 251relative to the cover substrate 4 in the thickness direction are smallerthan the cross sectional dimensions of the operation cavity 245 relativeto the cover substrate 4 in the thickness direction. On the innerperiphery of the operation cavity 245, a cavity 252 is formed and isconnected to the first reserving cavity 243 via a communicating section253. A clearance of the cavity 252 from the cover substrate 4 is formedso as not to enable the application of a capillary force. Further, thecavity 252 communicates with the atmosphere via a through hole 254formed in the first reserving cavity 243.

The first reserving cavity 243 and the operation cavity 245 areconnected via a connecting section 255 extending from the side wall ofthe first reserving cavity 243 through the communicating section 253. Asshown in FIG. 53(b), a clearance of the connecting section 255 from thecover substrate 4 is formed so as to enable the application of acapillary force. In this configuration, the end of the connectingsection 255 is circumferentially extended farther than the liquid levelof the sample liquid contained in the first reserving cavity 243, withrespect to the rotation axis. More specifically, the end of theconnecting section 255 is extended to the outermost periphery of thefirst reserving cavity 243.

On the outer periphery of the operation cavity 245, the second reservingcavities 247 and 248 are formed. Of the second reserving cavities 247and 248, the inner second reserving cavity 247 is deeper than the outersecond reserving cavity 248 and is connected via a connecting passage256. As shown in FIG. 53(c), the cross sectional dimensions of theconnecting passage 256 from the cover substrate 4 in the thicknessdirection form a clearance enabling the application of a capillaryforce. The cross sectional dimensions are regulated so as to have alarger capillary force than that of the operation cavity 245. Referencenumeral 257 denotes a communicating hole that communicates with theatmosphere. The second reserving cavity 248 contains a second reagent258.

FIGS. 54(a) to 54(d) show a transfer process of the reagents.

As shown in FIG. 54(a), a sample liquid 283 is injected into the liquidstorage chamber 241, and then the analyzing device 1 is rotationallydriven about the rotation axis 107, so that the sample liquid 283 ispassed through the communicating passage 242 and is transferred to thefirst reserving cavity 243 by a centrifugal force.

When the rotation of the analyzing device 1 is decelerated in a state inwhich the sample liquid has been moved to the first reserving cavity243, or when the analyzing device 1 is stopped with the outermost partof the first reserving cavity 243 directed downward as shown in FIG.54(b), the sample liquid 283 in the first reserving cavity 243 istransferred to the operation cavity 245 through the connecting section255 by a capillary force as shown in FIG. 54(c). The operation cavity245 has a larger capillary force than the connecting section 255. In astate in which the sample liquid 283 has been sucked into the operationcavity 245, the space of the operation cavity 245 filled with the sampleliquid 283 is as large as the clearance but a small space 246 not filledwith the sample liquid 283 is left.

In the state of FIG. 54(c), the sample liquid 283 comes into contactwith the first reagents 249 and 250 and the first reagents 249 and 250dissolve in the sample liquid. In this state, the analyzing device 1 isoscillated by a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis107, so that the sample liquid 283 in the operation cavity 245 is movedby the space 246 and collides with the agitating rib 251 duringagitation, achieving more reliable agitation. Thus even when thereagents have high specific gravities, it is possible to effectivelyprevent precipitation of the reagents.

After sufficient agitation in FIG. 54(c), the analyzing device 1 isrotationally driven about the rotation axis 107, so that the sampleliquid in the operation cavity 245 flows into the second reservingcavities 247 and 248 through the connecting passage 256 and is retainedin the outer second reserving cavity 248 as shown in FIG. 54(d). Sincethe outer second reserving cavity 248 contains the second reagent 258,when the analyzing device 1 in the state of FIG. 54(d) is oscillated bya predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis 107, the secondreagent 258 is further dissolved in the sample liquid.

After the second reagent 258 is completely dissolved, as shown in FIG.52, light 260 is transmitted from a light source 259 to the sampleliquid in the second reserving cavity 248, which serves as an outermeasurement spot, while the analyzing device 1 is rotated. Then, thelight is read by a photodetector 261 and is analyzed.

With this configuration, even if the quantity of the sample liquid issmall, it is possible to reliably move the sample liquid between thefirst reserving cavity 243 and the operation cavity 245 and dissolve thefirst reagents 249 and 250. Further, it is possible to transfer thesample liquid of the operation cavity 245 to the second reservingcavities 247 and 248 to dissolve the second reagent 258, achievingcorrect measurement.

Tenth Embodiment

In the ninth embodiment, the sample liquid is injected into the liquidstorage chamber 241 and is detected in the second reserving cavity 248at the end of the transfer of the sample liquid. A tenth embodimentshown in FIGS. 54 and 55 describes an analyzing device including a firstreserving cavity 243, an operation cavity 245, and second reservingcavities 247 and 248 in a transfer process.

Constituent elements having the same functions as in the ninthembodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals.

In the tenth embodiment, a base substrate 3 and a cover substrate 4 arejoined to each other as in the ninth embodiment. FIGS. 55 and 56 showthe base substrate 3 of the tenth embodiment.

In the analyzing device, blood dropped as a sample liquid to a blooddropping section 262 is diluted with a diluent set in a diluentreservoir 263 and is transferred to measuring sections 264, 265, 266,267, 268, and 269, and light 260 passing through the measuring sections264 to 269 from a light source 259 is properly read by a photodetector261 and is analyzed.

The blood dropped to the blood dropping section 262 is sucked into ablood retaining section 271 through a microchannel 270 formed betweenthe base substrate 3 and the cover substrate 4. In this state, theanalyzing device is rotationally driven about a rotation axis, so thatthe blood is metered in a blood metering chamber 273 through a bloodseparating section 272. Excessive blood is collected to a blooddischarging section 274. The diluent is metered in a diluent meteringchamber 275. An excessive diluent is collected to a discharging section277 through a mixing section 276.

The blood metered in the blood metering chamber 273 and the diluentmetered in the diluent metering chamber 275 are mixed in the mixingsection 276 and are transferred to a liquid storage chamber 241.

The diluted blood transferred as the sample liquid to the liquid storagechamber 241 is metered in diluted blood metering chambers 278, 279, 280,and 281 in which a capillary force is applied.

The analyzing device is rotated again, so that the diluted blood meteredin the diluted blood metering chambers 278 to 281 is transferred to themeasuring sections 264 to 267. The diluted blood metered in the liquidstorage chamber 241, in which a capillary force is applied, istransferred to the first reserving cavity 243 through a communicatingpassage 242. The diluted blood of the first reserving cavity 243 issucked into the operation cavity 245 through a connecting section 255.

The operation cavity 245 contains reagents (not shown) as in the ninthembodiment. The measuring sections 264 to 266, and 268 also containreagents.

By oscillating the analyzing device in this state, the reagents aredissolved by agitation and absorbance is measured in the rotation of theanalyzing device. By rotating the analyzing device, the diluted blood inthe operation cavity 245 is transferred to the second reserving cavity247 through a connecting passage 256. The diluted blood in the secondreserving cavity 247 is partially moved to the measuring section 268 andthen is transferred to the measuring section 269 through a siphon-shapedpassage 282, and absorbance is measured in the rotation of the analyzingdevice.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is useful for size reduction and improvedperformance of an analyzing device that is used for analyzing acomponent of a liquid collected from an organism or the like.

1.-9. (canceled)
 10. An analyzing device having a microchannel structurefor transferring a sample liquid to a measurement spot by a centrifugalforce, the analyzing device being used for reading that accesses areaction liquid at the measurement spot, the analyzing devicecomprising: a separating cavity for separating the sample liquid into asolution component and a solid component by using the centrifugal force;a measuring passage that receives a portion of the solution componentseparated in the separating cavity and retains the portion of thesolution component; a connecting passage whose proximal end is connectedto a bottom of the separating cavity, the connecting passagetransferring the sample liquid of the separating cavity; an overflowcavity connected to an other end of the connecting passage; and a liquidretaining connecting passage provided from an outlet of the connectingpassage in a circumferential direction. 11.-20. (canceled)